6 days ago
Japan, US, Australia, India coast guards hold 1st joint drill on same vessel
Coast guard personnel from Japan, the United States, Australia and India have carried out a joint mission aboard a US patrol ship in the Pacific. It marked the first time members of the four-nation Quad framework have conducted a drill on the same vessel.
The joint boarding exercise stems from an agreement reached at the Quad leaders summit last September to boost maritime security cooperation among member nations.
The Japan Coast Guard says participants from the four countries departed Palau on June 28 aboard the US ship and spent five days sailing to Guam.
Japanese officials say the team took part in onboard operations and held a firefighting drill simulating a blaze aboard the ship.
The exercise aimed to strengthen cooperation among the four countries, apparently with China's growing maritime activities in mind.
