By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The age-old adage that “there are no permanent friends or enemies but only permanent self-interest” proved to be true when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Philippine Navy (PN), and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted the first bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on Friday (2 August 2024) in the West Philippine Sea.
In an AFP statement, it said the joint activity was part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen regional and international cooperation towards realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
To recall, during the Second World War Japan attacked the Philippines for being an ally of the United States subsequently occupying the archipelagic country for three years.
“This collaborative exercise enhanced the tactical capabilities of the Philippine Navy and the JMSDF and reinforced the strong ties and mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region,” the AFP said.
With the aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea, several countries, including Japan, Australia, and the US, have expressed concerns that this may disrupt peace and stability in the region.
Ironically, former China’s paramount leader Deng Xiaoping had warned that one day China would become a social-imperialist country, meaning, socialist in words but imperialist in actions by conquering other countries.
“The JMSDF and the PN are dedicated to promoting security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating their shared commitment to upholding a rules-based international order,” the AFP concluded.
(ia/mnm)