Indian, Japanese Coast Guard Vessels Hold Joint ExerciseIndian and Japanese Coast Guard Vessels conducted their first ever joint exercise off the eastern Indian coast on Wednesday, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.The exercise, held near southeast India's port city of Chennai, or Madras, aimed at establishing joint working procedures for the two countries in anti-piracy operations in high seas, the PTI said. The Indian side put in action two patrol vessels, one interceptor craft, one aircraft and a helicopter, while the Japanese side sent its Coast Guard ship "Shikishima." A mock drill was conducted in which a merchant vessel in the high seas, seized by "armed pirates," was intercepted by Coast Guard vessels and the "pirates" overpowered, said the PTI. The exercise was part of the follow-up of the anti-piracy conference held in Japan last year in which 15 countries participated, Commandant of the Japanese Coast Guard Shogo Arai was quoted as saying. The Japanese government was eager to continue such exercises periodically and possibly in other countries of this region, he added. |
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