The United States has staged a war game with its Pacific and NATO allies in waters near China as Washington seeks to strengthen its deterrence against Beijing’s regional activities.
The drill, code-named Annual Exercise and held on Monday in the Philippine Sea, involved forces from the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, India and Japan, which are part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the U.S. and Australia, conducted a bilateral exercise in the East China Sea last week.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
Facing China’s growing military presence near its allies and partners—Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines—in the western Pacific, the U.S. seeks to deter potential Chinese aggression by projecting military power in the region under the island chain strategy.
The most recent war games came as China continued its military buildup to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan—a self-governed island and a U.S. security partner—the hotly contested South China Sea and the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands.
Beijing, which has been accused by U.S.-led alliances of attempting to change the status quo by force unilaterally, has rebuked Washington for engaging in what it called “group politics and bloc confrontation” that threatens regional peace and stability.
What To Know
This year’s Annual Exercise aimed to enhance the U.S.-Japan bilateral alliance within a multination context through maritime communication tactics, anti-submarine and air warfare operations and replenishment at sea, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet.
The war game, which featured about 20 vessels and 20 aircraft, demonstrated a joint commitment by the U.S. and Japan to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and served as a deterrent against regional instability and aggression, the U.S. 7th Fleet said.
Officially released photos show U.S. Marine Corps F-35B and U.S. Navy F-35C stealth fighter jets flying in formation during the exercise. Other participating American units included the destroyer USS Shoup, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and a submarine.
Shortly before Annual Exercise, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed three vessels, including a submarine, for an exercise with the Indian frigate INS Sahyadri in waters west of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island, on October 16 and 17.
The bilateral war game, supported by the Japan Ground and Air Self-Defense Forces, included anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare operations. Following the exercise, the Indian warship was spotted arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, on Tuesday.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said Tokyo and New Delhi are deepening their multi-layered cooperation as part of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership, referring to bilateral ties that seek a free, open, peaceful, prosperous and coercion-free Indo-Pacific.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. 7th Fleet said in a press release on Tuesday: “Held every two years, [Annual Exercise] is led by the [Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force] to provide an opportunity to refine and build upon existing combat interoperability capabilities, enhancing readiness across all platforms. This serves as a deterrent against regional instability and aggression.”
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said in a press release on Monday: “The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan, but also for the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. and its allies are likely to continue their military exercises in the western Pacific to signal their capabilities and resolve to defend against regional aggression.
