The Maritime Self-Defense Force began joint drills with the navies of the US, Australia and India on the 5th. The exercise, called Malabar, runs until the 12th in the Pacific south of the Kanto region and trains crews in responding to submarines and surface vessels.
The drills are intended to strengthen cooperation among the four countries' Quad framework, with China's expanding maritime activity in mind. The Quad — a grouping of Japan, the US, Australia and India — has until now produced few joint military activities.
About 200 people from the four countries attended the opening ceremony on the 5th aboard the destroyer Ise, moored at the MSDF's Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture. Admiral Katsushi Omachi, commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, said the security environment in the Indo-Pacific is growing more complex and that cooperation with like-minded countries is more important than ever.
“The security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is growing more complex. Cooperation with like-minded countries is more important than ever.”Admiral Katsushi Omachi, commander of the Self-Defense Fleet