FROM July 5 to 8 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted a bilateral training on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
The training was the first air-to-air bilateral training between the two air forces, which marked a significant milestone for defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
Both countries are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons due to their climate and topography. Its embassy said Japan is proud to share with the PAF the JASDF’s experience and knowledge on delivery operations of relief goods to people in urgent need.
During the said exercise the JASDF deployed a training unit of Air Support Command C-130H cargo aircraft, along with its personnel, and took part in a four-day joint-training session. The unit strictly observed all health and safety guidelines—including quarantine rules set by the Philippine government.
Due to the recent incident involving a PAF C-130 aircraft, the inflight training was cancelled, and the activity was focused on ground training such as load/offload training and simulated emergency procedure which used the JASDF’s C-130H. The training aimed to strengthen interoperability in delivering relief goods to affected people in isolated areas in severe emergency situations.
JASDF Unit Commander Major Masaki Mizuno also expressed his sympathies over the tragic crash in Sulu, as he also praised the PAF and airmen for their cooperation on the bilateral-training exercise.
“We are deeply saddened by the plane crash…We offer our sincerest condolences to [families of] all those who were lost due to the tragic crash,” said Mizuno. “Nevertheless, we are still very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Philippines and work with the PAF for the first air-to-air bilateral training on HA/DR—especially [as we mark] 65 years of friendship and 10 years of strategic partnership between our countries.”
He added, “We shared our knowledge and experience through the exercise and achieved a higher level of coordination and operative capabilities on HA/DR with our Filipino counterparts. As a strategic partner and friend of the Philippines, we are very much satisfied that our bilateral training contributes greatly to further strengthen the cooperation between our two air forces.”
Japan, through its embassy, reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and based on the rule of law, democratic values, territorial integrity, transparency, and peaceful resolution of disputes, as it underscored its intention to work together with the Philippines and other partner-countries through a wide range of activities and cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Back in 2013 the JASDF extended assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in November. Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed in total 1,180 personnel, three vessels, and 16 aircraft, of which seven were C-130Hs for transportation of medical assistance and relief supplies in affected areas.