Japan, Us, France Hold Joint Marine Drill
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has held a joint drill with US and French military vessels in waters off Kyushu in southwestern Japan.
The MSDF says its replenishment ship Hamana, US destroyer Curtis Wilbur and French frigate Prairial conducted a trilateral replenishment-at-sea drill on Friday.
Japan and France signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, or ACSA, in 2019. The ACSA allows the two countries' defense forces to reciprocally provide supplies, such as food, fuel and ammunition. The replenishment-at-sea drill was the first such action under the agreement.
The French frigate that took part in the drill was dispatched to the East China Sea from this month to monitor ship-to-ship transfers by North Korea.
The aim of the replenishment drill, in addition to providing logistical support, was apparently to demonstrate strong cooperation between the countries as China steps up its maritime activities.