Japanese warship Noshiro on 3-day goodwill visit to Subic

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) multi-mission frigate JS Noshiro (FFM-3) on Wednesday conducted its inaugural port call at Naval Operating Base Subic (NOBS) in Zambales.

“This significant visit serves as a testament to the increasingly robust maritime partnership between Japan and the Philippines,” the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said in a social media post.

“It reaffirms both nations’ unwavering commitment to upholding peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region,” it added.

In his report on 24 Oras, Ian Cruz said the Noshiro had just finished a training cruise in Australia before visiting Subic Bay. 

One of the new Mogami-class stealth frigates, the 3,900-ton Noshiro is armed with a combination of missile and gun systems for anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare hidden inside its hull. It is also equipped with unmanned underwater vehicles for mine countermeasures and one Seahawk helicopter.  

In a statement, the Noshiro’s captain, Commander Hori Tetsunobu, described the Philippines as an “important partner in realizing Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

“The relationship has become deeper between Filipino Navy and JMSDF too. More and more JMSDF warships are making port of calls in the Philippines and we have been conducting bilateral exercises including (maritime cooperative activity),” Hori said. 

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“I am also convinced that keeping those activities will contribute to peace and stability in the area surrounding the Philippines and Japan,” he added.

The Noshiro was met pierside by a contingent of the Philippine Navy.

“This visit is an important step in the strengthening of defense cooperation and deepening maritime ties between the Philippine Navy and the Japan Maritime Defense Force,” said Commander Salvador Bunagan, the commanding officer of NOB-Subic, during a speech welcoming the Japanese warship.

The entrance to Subic Bay is the disputed West Philippine Sea and 120 kilometers away from the Bajo de Masinloc where Chinese warships and militia vessels are present.

The Philippine Senate last December ratified the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)  between the country and Japan that is similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and Australia. Manila is hoping the RAA will be ratified by the Japanese Diet (Parliament) this year.

In February, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen visited the Philippines and had a defense ministerial meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News