Japanese missile strike sinks former US Navy warship during Philippine exercise
Stars and Stripes • • world
Key Points:
- Japan conducted its first-ever antiship missile launch outside its territory during the Balikatan maritime strike exercise near the South China Sea, firing two Type-88 missiles from northwestern Luzon to sink a decommissioned Philippine navy vessel.
- The exercise involved multiple allies, including American, Philippine, and Canadian forces, with participation from Philippine navy frigates, aircraft, a U.S. Navy patrol plane, and drones, highlighting increased military cooperation amid regional tensions with China.
- The Type-88 missile system, previously only tested within Japan, demonstrated its operational range of about 112 miles, marking a significant expansion of Japan’s military role in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro emphasized the exercise as a milestone for assessing Japan’s capabilities and strengthening bilateral ties, with plans for larger future drills involving more partners for both military and disaster response purposes.
- The joint training underscores a collective effort to build deterrence against shared threats, reflecting a strategic shift toward enhanced regional security collaboration.
