Recently, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines stated that the first air-to-air drill between Japan Air Self-Defense Force(JASDF) and the Philippine Air Force at Clark Air Base in the Philippines from July 5th to 8th was a"major milestone" in the defense cooperation between the two air forces.
演练无新意
Nothing new in the exercise
历时4天的演练以人道主义救援和灾难援助为课题展开，参演兵力为日本航空自卫队1架C-130H运输机及其所属人员，以及菲律宾空军部分人员。
The four-day drill was concentrated on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief.
受此前菲律宾空军C-130运输机坠机事件的影响，演练取消了飞行训练课目，只进行诸如强负载/卸载训练和模拟应急程序等地面课目演练。日本方面声称，该演练旨在加强紧急情况下向偏远地区受灾民众运送救援物资的互操作性。
Affected by the previous crash of C-130 transport aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, the drill canceled flight training courses and only carries out ground-based exercises on heavy load and unload training, simulated emergency procedures, etc. Japan claimed that the drill aimed to strengthen the interoperability of delivering relief supplies to disaster-stricken people in remote areas in emergencies.
演练开始前，日本航空自卫队声称“基于两国都易受地震、台风等自然灾害的影响，日本愿与菲律宾空军分享向灾民运送救援物资方面的经验与知识”。
然而，相较于日本驻菲大使馆声称的“双方防务合作的重要里程碑”而言，此次参演兵力、装备数量和演练课目的单调，着实让人觉得“寒酸”。
Before the drill, the JASDF stated that since both countries are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, Japan is willing to share with the Philippine Air Force its experience and expertise in delivering relief supplies to victims.
However, compared to the "important milestone in the defense cooperation between the two sides" claimed by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, the number of the troops, equipment and training courses involved in the exercise are really limited, showing a sense of stinginess.
今年是日菲建交65周年和战略伙伴关系确立10周年，选择在此时间节点举行突破性意义的军事演练，日本的战略意图显而易见：强化日菲安保合作，为日本推动“印太战略”，争夺地区主导权壮大声势。
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two sides.
It is obvious to see Japan’s strategic intentions as it chooses to hold the military drill with ground breaking significance at this time, which are to improve Japan-Philippines security cooperation, strengthen its momentum to push forward the "Indo-Pacific strategy" and compete for regional dominance.
双方心思各异
Two sides, two thoughts
就日本而言，菲律宾具有十分重要的地缘战略价值，既是扼控日本“海上生命线”——西南航线末段的重要关卡，也是日本推动“印太战略”的重要战略支点。同时，菲律宾是日本防卫装备的主要出口国之一。
此外，以灾难救援、联合演练等行动为借口，是日本突破和平宪法限制，实现军事力量海外运用的惯用伎俩。此次演练，日本同样试图通过展示自卫队实力，扩大地区影响力。
As far as Japan is concerned, the Philippines has critical geostrategic value as it is not only an important checkpoint controlling Japan's "maritime lifeline" at the end of the southwest route, but also an essential strategic pivot for Japan to promote the "Indo-Pacific strategy". Meanwhile, the Philippines is also one of the major exporters of Japanese defense equipment.
In addition, it is Japan’s usual tactic to break through the restrictions of the peace constitution and use its military power in overseas countries with an excuse of disaster relief and joint exercises. Through this drill, Japan also intends to expand its regional influence by demonstrating its force.
对菲律宾来说，在大国之间寻求战略平衡是其既定策略。尤其是在当前大国竞争日益激烈的形势下，菲律宾试图利用自身优势，周旋于大国之间，力求国家利益的最大化。
菲律宾通过加强与日本防务合作，借机推进与日本的经济合作，谋求日本加大对菲军事和经济援助，以稳定目前菲国内政治和经济的动荡。
For the Philippines, its established strategy is to seek a strategic balance among major powers. Especially in the current situation of increasingly fierce competition among major powers, the Philippines is trying to use its own advantages to deal with the major powers and strive to maximize its national interests.
By strengthening its defense cooperation with Japan, the Philippines has taken the opportunity to advance economic cooperation with Japan, asking Japan to increase its military and economic assistance to the Philippines to stabilize the current domestic political and economic turmoil in the country.
不难看出，日菲双边空空演练虽取得了防务合作的新进展，但实际上双方的利益并不一致。
日本更多着眼于军事和安全层面，企图以菲律宾作为其推行“印太战略”的支点。而菲律宾则希望以此获得日本更多的援助。这使得该演练的象征意义大于实质效果。
It’s easy to find that although Japan-Philippines air-to-air drill has made new progress in defense cooperation, the interests of the two sides are not consistent in fact.
Japan focuses more on the military and security aspects trying to use the Philippines as the pivot for its "Indo-Pacific strategy", whereas the Philippines hopes to gain more aid from Japan,which makes the drill more symbolic than substantial.
