Japanese warships, sub arrive in Philippines amid China tension

Hope bad weather didn't hamper scenic view around the area. No security concerns for now, at least not now.

China's being a bully.

And yet there are those on here, and the government, who would say it is CHINA engaging in stirring up tensions as they disembark the warships near the disputed islands in the Philippines. Hypocrites.

I wonder if Subic is still the Subic of old. They need to learn "What happens in Subic stays in Subic" along with a shot of penicillin.

China has built on and militarised disputed islands in the region. A third of the world's oil goes through the region. It doesn't take a genius to see the dangers.

Some parasites living here will find fault with anything Japan does, but then they'll be the first ones to scuttle off to their home countries when the going gets tough.

And yet there are those on here, and the government, who would say it is CHINA engaging in stirring up tensions as they disembark the warships near the disputed islands in the Philippines.

Well, China is disembarking and building on disputed island, and clearly not invited. That could be considered an invasion. Meanwhile, Japan is visiting Philippine ports in response to an invitation from the Philippines. Most people without an agenda can see the difference pretty clearly there.

@hatsoff your absolutely right most people on here will piss and moan about Japan sending military assets on a visit to their neighbors and they were probably the same ones who tucked tail and ran on 3/11 to their home countries the simple fact is China spat on their neighbors faces when they unilaterally built artificial islands that will never be recognized as legit because the Chinese have zero respect for rule of law as it pertains to their own aspirations in the region they think economic might equals justification for their behavior!

" it is CHINA engaging in stirring up tensions"

so true

Japanese warships back again in the Philippines? Didn't go too well last time it happened.

How many countries has China invaded and f*****d up as the US has done?

I know which country scares me.......

While the Japanese navy is there. Wipe out those pirates that stole a tug and coal barge. Please look at the poverty in some of the villages and provide aid while there. be very good pr. exercise.

I can hardly understand why Mr. Abe can take such an action.

Wikipedia says that Japan in 1938 occupied both Splatlys and Paracels claiming that they were under jurisdiction of Taiwan and Hainan, China, respectively. If the Japanese claims were right, Splatlys is the issue between China and Taiwan and there should be no problem at all no matter what China does on Paracels.

I have never heard any from Mr. Abe that the ground of that Japanese claims was wrong. Unless Mr. Abe officially explain how wrong they were, I think he should stay away from the SCS matter.

An insight into Prime Minister Shinzo Abe foreign policy, in essence a strategic alliance with Manila, underlined with the despatch of Japanese submarine Oyashio and destroyers JS Ariake, JS Setogiri, can be understood in ,Utsukushii Kuni E (Toward a Beautiful Country).......Abe san manifesto, in many ways explains his current behavior, certainly politically...... Review by Fumiko Halloran

http://www.japansociety.org.uk/2154/utsukushii-kuni-e-toward-a-beautiful-country/

Good move. All ships have the FON including those from JMSDF.

China has spent the last 10 years trying to convince the world that all of Asia HATES Japan for WWII, News articles as this expose the sheer idiocy of China's claims as well as their current role as the threat to Asia. What's funny is that there are those who still believe the Chinese propaganda.

突撃雷撃, ah the surprise on China as Japan is not a lame tiger or puppet to no one. Patience is a virtue but it too has its limits and with the US as the main ally China should stop its' shameless false claims, save face and turn back to business and forget about all this militarism.

“The visit is a manifestation of a sustained promotion of regional peace

I highly doubt China will see it that way, especially when the U.S. and Filipino soldiers are practicing "war games" at the same time.

I'm not defending China's actions but I don't see our reactions as doing anything more than fanning the flames of an already existing fire.

Pukey2

So what happened two years ago?

FYI, JMSDF ships had been making port calls to the Philippines every couple of years although it never gain much attention then. Hell even a Japanese sub made a port call to the Philippines 15 years ago.

History will be the judge whether the Government of Japan timing in sending a modest naval force to support Manila was ill conceived.

Fraught with risk, an action that could certainly fan the flames of political acrimony. However it a sure fire gambit to force a possible conclusive reaction from a Global community, and especially a US Government with the wherewithal to halt the Government of China reckless ambitions.

Why Subic and not Palawan or Kalayaan islands which really are near disputed waters?

This news is more hype .

Maybe Japan will help remove toxic substances in Subic which like Okinawa is burial ground for Agent Orange ?

@smithinjapan

engaging in stirring up tensions as they disembark the warships near the disputed islands in the Philippines

Friendly visit to a port at undisputedly Philippines territory hardly qualifies as stirring up tensions.

@Pukey2

Japanese warships back again in the Philippines? Didn't go too well last time it happened.

When Japanese military personnel last time was in the Philippines (2013, helping locals after typhoon) everything went very well, the Philipino people were very grateful.

@OssanAmerica

What's funny is that there are those who still believe the Chinese propaganda.

Good. You join me to suggest China to drop the "9 dash lines" in China's state own media. It's going to be more effective. I don't take sides for reef issues but the water does not belong to anyone except 200 nautical miles. Also, persuade the US to join UNCLOS because the US is not exceptional. .

To be precise the reefs doesn't obtain neither EEZ or territorial waters beyond 400 METERS so PRC's nine dash lines is completely junk and PRC a signatory of UNCLOS knows it.

Pukey2Apr. 03, 2016 - 07:11PM JST Japanese warships back again in the Philippines? Didn't go too well last time it happened.

But this time they' re invited. Best get with the times.

Ah, I see that many of you seem to think that sending Destroyers, Submarines and practicing war games won't bother China and is only a defined action of "promotional peace in the region. Rather than only being able to press the thumbs down feature, can you debate my previous comment?

Hideo WatanabeApr. 03, 2016 - 11:27PM JST @OssanAmerica "What's funny is that there are those who still believe the Chinese propaganda."

Good. You join me to suggest China to drop the "9 dash lines" in China's state own media. It's going to be more effective.

The idea that China will drop the 9-dash line because somebody "suggests it: is very funny!

"And yet there are those on here, and the government, who would say it is CHINA engaging in stirring up tensions as they disembark the warships near the disputed islands in the Philippines. Hypocrites".

Smith_in Japan needs to think straight. Would the Japanese warships have gone to the Philippines in a show of solidarity if China had not shown such disconcerting indifference to international opinion?

The way I see it, is that , Japan is setting-up the Philippines as a surrogate for a confrontation which it - Japan that is, wants to avoid for a myriad reasons. It has armed the Philippines and is now egging it on to keep poking China in the eye and it hopes that China will take the bait and attack Philippines. I'm sure China sees through this infantile tactic, and God forbid, should push come to shove China will go for the poodle's master. Philippines should bear in mind that should anything go down, it will suffer terrible consequences, just bearing in mind that the Great wall is no longer within China, it's now way out right at its { Philippines) door-step. It should stop being used by the agent-provocateur of that region. Think further, with the US " pivot" in Asia,you will know why this region is a tinder-box likely to set-off an apocalypse. I have a soft-spot for the Philippines but I don't agree with its direction.

Japan isn't setting up anybody to do anything. It's China that's unilaterally forcing all of it's neighbors to respond to their aggressive expansionism. China's un-peaceful rise is now global public knowledge.

I see none of you pro military reactionist can debate the claims that bringing Destroyers, submarines and practicing war games, equals using the term "promotional peace in the region"?

Can any of you show us how this move will actually stop China from their present coarse? You can't, because this reaction will only cause an escalation to each countries concerns.

The next article will be about China's poor reaction to Japan's last poor relation. That is by definition "escalation", not "promotional peace"

It promotes stability in the region which leads to peace. Without counter balance PLAN and their militia fishermen fleet will completely cover the region claiming it their own without reservation or fear in which case it will escalate where some nation will challenge those which will lead to exchanging bullets.

If people can't see that then I suggest they re-read the history books because it happens numerous times in the past.

Mr Hayward, I would say that the move isn't meant to portray peace in the region more than it is designed to promote peace by showing a war against a large coalition of countries would be more costly than rewarding for China. Wars aren't really consucted based on ego, they're fought for security, economic, and political gains. A war that doesn't achieve any of those gains is a war that will not happen. If China sees it's isolated against several nations that have military forces synced and prepared to conduct coordinated operations they will be less likely to fight.

I truly condemn what China is doing, the livelihood of small filipino fishermen is getting badly affected. The Chinese government is out of their minds for claiming that territory. However I don't agree to the idea that Japan is wasting the tax Money paid by their over working citizen protecting Philippines as this should be a responsibility by the Philippine government Instead of stealing the money from filipino people. Japan should focus protecting their own country and Philippine politicians should stop stealing money and instead spend it on our country's defense force. They can actually afford these things if they stop stealing money! Indeed the whole region should be united in case the issue escalates but This courteous act by Japan will just spoil the greedy Filipino politicians to keep on stealing from public funds as Japanese tax payers are paying for our security! Sometimes maybe better to threaten the Philippines so these corrupt government will be forced to act properly.

CrucialS: Thanks for your reply. I asked for an example of how this move will stop China from its present coarse and while you gave some examples of why wars start in the first place, you gave nothing to show how it will stop China. China will continue to do more of the same and if anything, the examples you gave will lead to their furthering those same examples. When the next article comes out, watch what happens, watch how China reacts to this. It will not force them to back down.