Japan’s supplies to US Coast Guard aimed at testing Beijing, observers say

A Japanese Self-Defence Forces supply ship has replenished an American coastguard patrol vessel at sea for the first time during joint training, Japan said on Tuesday, in what Chinese observers described as closer collaboration to counter China.

Japan’s JS Oumi supply ship serviced the USCGC Munro in the East China Sea last week during a two-day training exercise that included crew exchanges and maritime law enforcement training and exercises, after the Munro’s port visit in the Japanese city of Sasebo.