- The Australian Navy has joined Japan and U.S. warships in the Philippine Sea to conduct military exercises aimed at improving interoperability between the allies
- Australia’s HMA Canberra led five warships alongside U.S. and Japanese forces for some trilateral exercise
- The exercises come ahead of the biennial Exercise RIMPAC international navy event in Hawaii
- The event is designed to strengthen relationships between countries, test new weapons, show off military tech, and simulate real-life war events to help prepare navies for combat
- Of course, the Philippine Sea exercises carry some heavier undertones as Chinese border tensions continue to escalate in the region
- China was disinvited to RIMPAC in 2018 and will not be attending next month
The Australian Navy has joined Japan and U.S. warships in the Philippine Sea to conduct military exercises aimed at improving interoperability between the allies.
Five Australian ships, led by HMA Canberra, have joined the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and a Japanese “Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Akizuki-class destroyer” for trilateral exercise in the area.
Underlying tension
While naval exercises are a common occurrence, today’s display of naval power has some heavy undertones as Chinese border tensions continue to escalate in the Pacific. The United States has slammed China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea region in recent weeks. Just yesterday U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the country is hardening its stance toward Beijing.
Nevertheless, the Australian Department of Defence made no reference to China in relation to the naval exercises but rather said it is simply an “invaluable” opportunity to work alongside other powerful navies.
“Maintaining security and safety at sea requires navies to be able to cooperate seamlessly,” the Commander of the Australian Joint Task Group, Commodore Michael Harris, said.
“The combined activities between our navies demonstrates a high degree of interoperability and capability between Australia, Japan and the US.”
Japanese Captain Sakano Yusuke took it a step further and said cooperation between U.S., Australian, and Japanese naval forces is vital for Japan and contributes to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“The experience in this exercise will give us tactical and operational advantages and make our friendships stronger, in addition to our regular joint exercises with both like-minded navies,” Captain Sakano said.
Upcoming war games
The Australian, U.S., and Japanese navy will be heading to Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in Hawaii this August.
RIMPAC is the largest international maritime warfare exercise in the world where navies from several countries come together to flex their military might near Pearl Habour.
The event is held every other year and is designed to strengthen relationships between countries, test new weapons, show off military tech, and simulate real-life war events to help prepare navies for combat.
China has participated in RIMPAC events before but was disinvited to the massive exercise in 2018 based on its aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea.
China won’t be participating in this year’s RIMPAC.
Australia, Japan, and U.S. naval forces will continue their Philippine Sea exercises until July 23, after which they will set course for Hawaii for RIMPAC.