Australia joins US, Japan in naval exercise amid rising China tensions

Five Australian warships are conducting military exercises in the Philippine Sea amid rising tensions with China.

Australia, Japan and the US conduct a trilateral passage in the Philippine Sea on the way to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in Hawaii.

Five Australian warships are conducting exercises with United States’ and Japanese ships in the Philippine Sea, stepping up maritime security co-operation amid rising tensions with China.

The Australian ships, including helicopter landing dock HMAS Canberra and air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart, have joined the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force’s Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki.

The exercises, en route to the Rim of the Pacific war-games off Hawaii, come as US Defence Secretary Mark Esper warns America is preparing for a possible confrontation with China.

The navies will conduct exercises over the next two days aimed to streamline the ability of the three navies to work together, and demonstrate the nations’ commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific”.

HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius taking part in a trilateral passage in the Philippine Sea.

Commander of the Australian Joint Task Group, Commodore Michael Harris, said the opportunity to work alongside Japan and the US was invaluable.

“Maintaining security and safety at sea requires navies to be able to co-operate seamlessly,” Commodore Harris said.

“The combined activities between our navies demonstrates a high degree of interoperability and capability between Australia, Japan and the US.”

ANZAC frigates HMAS Stuart and Arunta, and tanker HMAS Sirius, are also part of the task group.

US Navy Captain Russ Caldwell, Commanding Officer of the USS Antietam, said the exercises showed a shared commitment to regional stability.

“The relationships we‘ve developed enable us to meet at sea and immediately operate at an advanced level. This highlights the enduring nature of our alliances with Japan and Australia,” Captain Caldwell said.

“The United States is fortunate to routinely operate alongside its allies across the Indo-Pacific and co-ordinated operations like these reinforce our mutual commitment to international maritime norms and promoting regional stability.”

Captain Sakano Yusuke, Commander of Japan’s Escort Division 4, said strengthening co-operation with the US Navy and Royal Australian Navy was vitally important for Japan.

“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.

The Joint Task Group left Darwin on 5 July 2020 to begin a regional deployment to Southeast Asia and Hawaii.

As the ships practised manoeuvres in the Philippine Sea, Mr Esper warned the US was equipping and positioning its forces across Asia to “to deter against coercive behaviour” by China.

He said Beijing had intensified its “bad behaviour” in the South China Sea during the coronavirus.

"I am concerned that while the United States and our partners focus on supporting one another during these challenging times, the Chinese Communist Party continues to engage in systematic rule breaking, coercion and other malign activities.

"And, most concerning for me, the People's Liberation Army continues its aggressive behaviour in the East and South China Seas."