Japan to take part in minesweeping drills in Singapore waterThe Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) will take part in international minesweeping drills in waters off Singapore between April 21 and May 7, the Defense Agency said Friday.It is the second time for the MSDF to participate in the western Pacific minesweeping drills co-sponsored by the Singaporean and Indonesian navies. The first participation took place in 2001. A total of 17 countries, also including the United States, Australia and Thailand, will take part in the drills, in which mock mines will be used for detection and sweeping to improve participants' minesweeping skills. According to the agency, the MSDF will send the "Uraga" minesweeper tender and two other ships with some 230 troops aboard. The MSDF is also slated to join international submarine rescue drills that South Korea will sponsor in its southern waters in May,it said, adding that participating nations will number 15, including the United States, France and India. Source: Xinhua |
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