Japan’s, US and Philippine coast guards recently held joint drills off Kagoshima, Japan, simulating collisions, fires and man‑overboard rescues. The exercise, involving around 350 personnel, is aimed at boosting regional maritime security and signaling support for a “free and open Indo‑Pacific” as China expands coast guard and naval operations around contested waters. Keywords: Japan coast guard, US–Philippines drills, Indo‑Pacific security, China maritime activity.
In a week of maritime cooperation near Kagoshima, Japan, coast guard teams from Japan, the United States, and the Philippines conducted an unprecedented crisis response exercise on June 20, 2025. Roughly 350 personnel participated, simulating vessel collisions, fires and man‑overboard events—key scenarios aimed at improving operational synergy across the three nations.
The trilateral exercise, building on a 2024 cooperative framework, underscores growing concerns over China’s assertive coast guard and naval activities in contested parts of the Pacific. Earlier this June, Japan recorded two Chinese aircraft carriers entering the Pacific in tandem for the first time, accompanied by aircraft buzzing near Japanese reconnaissance aircraft.
This drill marks the second full-scale response exercise involving these coast guards, following an initial 2023 drill in Philippine waters. Officials emphasize that the collaboration focuses on strengthening rescue readiness and maritime domain awareness—supporting the broader aim of maintaining a “free and open Indo‑Pacific” region.
China’s recent sea and air patrols in the South China Sea, coupled with a visible increase in naval flotillas across East Asia, have fueled alarm among regional partners. In response, the Philippines has deepened its security alliances with the US, Japan, and even New Zealand. Meanwhile, the recent “selfie war” over Sandy Cay Reef highlights growing geopolitical symbolism in maritime sovereignty claims.
Japan’s coast guard commander, Adm. Yoshio Seguchi, noted that such coordinated training builds not only tactical readiness but also institutional trust, enabling swift, collective action in future emergencies.
