Japan has sent two training ships to the Philippines for a 4-day port call. The move comes after the Japanese government declared that it’s providing the country with 10 brand-new patrol vessels.

The aim is to bolster Philippine maritime and territorial capabilities before the year ends. Manila is the first stop of the Japanese training squadron’s 5-month long journey. The warships will then visit 14 other countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines says the visit has nothing to do with the Huangyan Island dispute. Since 1966, Japanese warships have visited Manila on more than 50 occasions.

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