ABOARD BRP BATANGAS, Philippines, Rajab 17, 1436, May 06, 2015, SPA -- Philippine and Japanese coast guard teams staged an anti-piracy drill on Wednesday, featuring the storming of a cargo vessel after a mock hijack, in a show of maritime cooperation between the two nations amid rising tension in Asian waters, Reuters reported. Wednesday's drill was the first held by Japan and the Philippines after signing a strategic partnership pact in 2012. The rare maritime law enforcement exercises in Manila Bay were watched by the coast guard chiefs of 17 Asian nations, including China, who are meeting to find ways to cooperate in boosting safety and battling piracy and transnational crime. Japan has been helping the Philippines improve its skills in maritime law enforcement, safety and environment protection, Captain Koichi Kawagoe of Japan's coast guard told reporters. --SPA 12:54 LOCAL TIME 09:54 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w