Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral SAITO Akira flew over the South China Sea with the commanders, the U.S. 7th fleet, the Royal Australian Army and the Naval Air Wing, the Philippine Navy.

On August 26, Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral SAITO Akira, embarked on P-8A and flew over the South China Sea with Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet; Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, Chief of Joint Operations, Australia; Commodore Juario C Mayarag, Commander, Naval Air Wing, Philippine Navy; and Brigadier General Erick Quijada Escarcha, Wing Commander, Tactical Operations Wing West, Philippine Air Force.
The Self-Defense Fleet continues to strengthen cooperation with the U.S., Australia, and the Philippines for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”