南シナ海で５カ国共同訓練　台湾海峡初通過の護衛艦参加―中国を強くけん制・防衛省

　防衛省は２８日、海上自衛隊の護衛艦「さざなみ」が、南シナ海で米国、オーストラリア、ニュージーランド（ＮＺ）、フィリピン各軍の艦艇と共同訓練を実施したと発表した。さざなみは２５日に初めて台湾海峡を通過した護衛艦で、続けて南シナ海でも活動することで、中国の海洋進出をより強くけん制する狙いがあるとみられる。
　訓練は５カ国による「海上協同活動」として実施。さざなみと豪駆逐艦「シドニー」、ＮＺ補給艦「アオテアロア」は台湾海峡を通過後に参加した。
　同省によると、共同訓練にはさざなみなど計６隻と豪哨戒機１機が参加。２８日に南シナ海のフィリピンの排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内で共同航行や相互通信などを行った。
　南シナ海では南沙（英語名・スプラトリー）諸島の領有権を巡り、中比両国の船舶衝突などが相次いでいる。防衛省は「特定の国を意識した訓練ではないが、南シナ海での力による現状変更の試みや緊張を高めるいかなる行為にも強く反対する」としている。（2024/09/28-15:25）

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Sazanami joined a five-nation joint naval drill in the South China Sea on Saturday, Japan's Defense Ministry said.
   The Sazanami passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday to become the first MSDF destroyer to do so before attending the joint exercise with the militaries of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, according to informed sources. By having the destroyer operate in the South China Sea after sailing through the critical strait, Japan apparently intends to strongly contain China's increasing maritime assertiveness.
   The drill was conducted as the five countries' "maritime cooperative activity." The Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney and the New Zealand supply ship HMNZS Aotearoa also passed through the Taiwan Strait before joining the drill, the sources said.
   According the Japanese ministry, a total of six ships, including the Sazanami, and an Australian patrol aircraft took part in the joint exercise. They conducted joint cruises and communication trainings in the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on Saturday.
   China has a territorial dispute with the Philippines over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which has led to collisions of the two countries' ships in the sea area. The Japanese ministry explained, "While the drill was not conducted with any particular country in mind, we strongly oppose any attempt to change the status quo by force or any action that increases tensions in the South China Sea."