FRIENDLY FORCES — The JS Suzutsuki (left) and the JS Inazuma are docked at the Alava Wharf of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday, a few moments before their departure. Inset is Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Commander of the Escort Division Four Captain Atsushi Minami. (Jonas Reyes)
This purview comes no less than from visiting Japanese Naval Fleet Commander Atsushi Minami, who expressed the overall pleasure of the crew members of the “JS Inazuma” and “JS Suzutsuki” in Subic as their current site for RNR (rest and recreation).
During their three-day port visit, the Commander of the Escort Division Four of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the 360 crewmembers (160 JS Inazuma crewmembers, 200 JS Suzutsuki crewmembers) of the two ships toured the ins and outs of the area and found great food here.
“I have tried a stew that is salty, is it Adobo? It was very delicious,” Minami said. The commander and his entourage also went out for some seafood at one of the local restaurants in Subic Freeport.
“We had a very nice dinner last night at the Seafood by the Bay. In Tokyo, fresh seafood is very, very expensive. Here, we enjoyed the fresh red snapper (Maya-maya) and trout,” he added.
“This is my first time in Subic. Subic is a very big port and the quality here is very good,” Minami said. When asked about having routine port calls, the commander pointed out that JDMSF would like to have more port visit not only in Subic, but in Manila. “But the details and schedule hasn’t been decided yet.”
Views on Russia
When asked about the port visit of the Russian Navy in Manila, the commander replied: “Interesting.” But he added that when they conducted counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, both the Japanese and Russian Navy cooperated in the security of the area.
“Not only Russians, but also People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy, we cooperated with each other in terms of counter piracy. Not only with the US Navy, Royal Navy, Indian Navy, Pakistani Navy, and PLA Navy, we cooperated with each other. Naval ships from other countries cooperated with each other for the same purpose of countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden,” he said.
Value of PH
The commander pointed out that the Philippine port visit is very important for Japan in terms of having interaction with the Philippine Navy. Aside from demonstrating the “Freedom of Navigation” in the South China Sea, it is important for the JMSDF to have interaction with their Philippine counterparts.
“This is also due to Japan Defense Minister’s agreement with the Philippines to enhance disaster management operations and humanitarian operations since both countries are hit hard by typhoons,” Minami said.
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/06/japan-naval-force-enjoying-subic/
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