Japan Joins US Dawn Blitz 2013 Amphibious Exercises - What's in it for the Philippines?

On the 31st of May 2013, a Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) group of about 1,000 servicemen, 3 warships and several combat helicopters arrived in California in preparation to its participation on a large amphibious operation exercise called "DAWN BLITZ 2013", which will be held from June 11 to 28. Together with Japan will be forces from the US Navy and Marine Corps, Canada and New Zealand. The exercise involves amphibious assault exercises on the San Clemente Island off Los Angeles in California, and according to US Navy, involves "fictional countries and virtual opposing forces with no basis on any current geopolitical situation".

The JMSDF amphibious assault ship JDS Shimokita underway at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Photo taken from US Navy website.

Dawn Blitz 2013 is part of a series of amphibious training exercises which provide realistic and relevant training for the US Marine Corps and its foreign participants. Japan's contingent include the flat-deck landing ship JDS Shimokita (LST-4002), the Aegis missile destroyer JDS Atago (DDG-177) and the helicopter destroyer cum helicopter carrier JDS Hyuga (DDH-181). Also scheduled in the exercises is the landing for the first time in a Japanese warship of the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, planning and execution of amphibious landing operations, live fire exercises, and exercises on logistics and command, control and communications.

The JDS Atago, an AEGIS missile destroyer of the JMSDF.
Photo taken from Royal Canadian Navy website.

Although it seems to be just another military exercise, this is actually an unprecedented move by Japan and its main ally the United States. It is the first time that Japan will send a large contingent to the US, and the first time that Japan will be involved in a large scale amphibious assault exercise since the formation of the Japanese Self Defense Forces in the 1950s. The fleet sent by the JMSDF alone includes their largest of most powerful ships, as the JDS Hyuga is actually one of their 2 helicopter carriers intentionally understated by the Japanese as a helicopter destroyer.

The helicopter destroyer / carrier JDS Hyuga of the JMSDF.

Although officially not directed at a specific country, the exercises is timely with the ongoing tensions between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands and possibly the Okinawa archipelago. China earlier made statements of claims to the Senkakus and contesting the sovereignty of Japan over Okinawa, both of which Japan considers as an integral part of its territory. 

The exercises is a testament that the Americans will be backing-up the Japanese on this issue, and this also enforces their own announcement of shifting its sights more to the Asia-Pacific region. It also shows that Japan is serious on dealing with the security threats it faces, and that it is willing to accept a bigger responsibility in Asia's security stability by letting go of the policies it implements since their loss in World War 2 and American occupation in 1945.

The Senkaku Islands, shown with the overlapping EEZs of China, Japan and Taiwan.
Photo taken from defensenews.com

So what's in it for the Philippines?

Actually nothing much on the outside. There might be trickles of benefits from a stronger and more capable Japan like assistance or political support, but nothing really major. But if the Philippine government dig deeper into what the Japanese are up to, the gem is actually on the inside.

Like Japan, the Philippines is a major US treaty ally, and have a common threat which is China. Both countries are locked against China on control of contested islands, and both are tied up to limitations to maximize its defense capabilities on one way or another. But that's were the similarities ends, because after that, both have different ways to meet their ineffectiveness.

A Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and China Maritime Surveillance (MSA) large patrol vessels matching-up on each other. This is a normal scene nowadays around the Senkaku Islands, with the usual participation of Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration (CGA) ships.

Unlike Japan, who makes strides to increase defense spending and capabilities despite hard times on the economic front, who plans and painfully but is ready and willing to amend its "peace" constitution to keep up with the present security threats and give its armed forces the teeth it needs to meet its defense requirements, and stride hard to keep its territories intact and its people united; the Philippines is not making such hard choices.

Mischief Reef in 1995, 2005 and 2012 for comparison. Note the changes.
Photo taken from Korea News Online.

The Philippines already lost possession of the Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef) to China in 1994, and lost control of Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) in 2012, again to China. For 2013, Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) is being threatened of being taken over by China. Taiwan also started its posturing in the north, trying to take a huge slice on the Philippines' EEZ and fishing rights.

Is it already too late to do make the changes on how the government prioritizes the defense of the Philippines, improving its foreign relations and foreign policy, strengthening and modernizing the armed forces, and increasing its ties with its allies? MaxDefense believes it is too late. But being late is always better than doing nothing at all.

Is the Philippines willing to make painful but worthwhile changes to face the threats around her? MaxDefense leaves this question to ponder.