Japanese ship docks in Manila for goodwill visit

MANILA, Philippines — A landing ship tank of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force carrying more or less 140 officers and crew arrived in Manila on Thursday for a three-day goodwill visit.

JS Osumi, the frontrunner of the Osumi-class tank landing ships in the service of the Japanese Navy, docked at Pier 15 in Manila South Harbor.

This would be the third Japanese Navy ship to visit the country following JS Akizuki earlier this month and JS Amagiri in February.

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"Heading the visiting more or less 140 officers and crew are the commander of Landing Ship Division One Capt. Tomonori Kobayashi and ship’s commanding officer Capt. Yuji Horikawa," Philippine Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said earlier this week.

A port briefing on security and health with the Philippine Navy will be conducted aboard JS Osumi.

The goodwill visit comes weeks before the launch of the annual Balikatan exercises between the Philippines and the United States, wherein Japanese forces will also be participating. — Patricia Lourdes Viray