Japan, Tonga Hold First Joint Navy Drill to Bolster Defense Cooperation

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) escort ship Kurama sails through smoke during a fleet review off Sagami Bay, Kanagawa prefecture, on Oct. 18, 2015. Thirty-six MSDF vessels and navy ships from Australia, India, France, South Korea, and the United States participated in the fleet review. (Toru Yamanaka/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan and Tonga have held their first joint navy drill to bolster defense cooperation amid growing concerns over China’s military presence in the region.

The joint drill, which was held in waters near the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22, involved the Japanese destroyer JS Kirisame and the Tongan patrol vessel Ngahau Siliva.

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) said in a statement (pdf) that the drill was aimed at enhancing the tactical capabilities and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Japan also conducted its first joint navy drill with Fiji from Aug. 15 to Aug. 18 to boost defense cooperation.

This follows a teleconference between Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku last month, during which they agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and exchanges, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.

Tonga is still recovering from a volcanic eruption and tsunami that wreaked havoc on the Pacific nation in January. The event has seen major countries pledging financial aid in a bid to compete for influence.

On May 31, China signed bilateral agreements with Tonga on disaster relief, agriculture, fishery, health, and police equipment, as Beijing continues to push Pacific nations to join a sweeping regional security and economy deal.

‘Unstable’ Indo-Pacific Region

Japan has increased its military drills in the Indo-Pacific region and engaged in multinational drills, one of which being the U.S.-led live fire drill—Super Garuda Shield exercise—in Indonesia on Aug. 12 that featured 14 nations.

The drills were held against the backdrop of China’s military threat against Taiwan following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island nation. China views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary.

Adm. John C. Aquilino, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander, said the 14 nations were signaling stronger ties to achieve stability in the Indo-Pacific region and indicate they are prepared “to respond to any contingency.”

“The destabilizing actions by the People’s Republic of China as it applied to the threatening activities and actions against Taiwan is exactly what we are trying to avoid,” Aquilino said at a press conference.

Earlier in June, Japan dispatched an escort flotilla consisting of the destroyers JS Izumo and JS Takanami for a four-month naval drill in the Indo–Pacific.

JMSDF Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa said the mission was to promote maritime order in the Indo–Pacific region, “which is rapidly becoming more complex and unstable.”

The Indo-Pacific deployment will demonstrate Japan’s strong opposition to “any attempt to unilaterally change the status by force” and “its strong determination to ensure the safety of maritime traffic” in the region, Yuasa said in a statement.

Nina Nguyen contributed to this report.