Since 1975
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Home
  • Japan
  • Japan, India hold joint coast guard drill

Japan, India hold joint coast guard drill

The Echigo left a port in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 26 last year and carried out a patrol against pirates on high seas along the way ahead of the joint training. (AFP/file)
The Echigo left a port in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 26 last year and carried out a patrol against pirates on high seas along the way ahead of the joint training. (AFP/file)
Short Url:
16 Jan 2020 01:01:34 GMT9
16 Jan 2020 01:01:34 GMT9

Chennai, India

The Japanese and Indian coast guards on Thursday conducted a joint drill in waters off Chennai, southern India.

The 18th such exercise between the two nations comes at a time when China is expanding its maritime presence in waters near India.

Sharing the concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" to ensure the freedom of navigation and the administration of law, Japan and India intend to display their close relationship through the drill to keep China in check.

The exercise involves Japan's Echigo patrol vessel and five Indian ships, including the Shaurya patrol boat, as well as helicopters of both countries.

Members of the coast guards trained to deal with fires as well as an attempted occupation of a ship by pirates.

Commandant Takahiro Okushima of the Japan Coast Guard and Director General Krishnaswamy Natarajan of the Indian Coast Guard will inspect the joint exercise. The two chiefs held a meeting on Tuesday in New Delhi.

The drill was designed to improve the two nations' capability to deal with pirates and carry out law enforcement operations, such as on-site inspections of vessels, an official at the Japan Coast Guard said.

The Echigo left a port in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 26 last year and carried out a patrol against pirates on high seas along the way ahead of the joint training.

The ship will visit Malaysia before returning to Niigata in February.

JIJI Press

Most Popular
Recommended

return to top