Russian Navy cruiser RFS Varyag (011) and destroyer RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (543). Japan MOD photo
Over the past two weeks, the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet has been conducting drills in the Chukchi and Bering Seas and the Chukchi Peninsula of Eastern Siberia, some of which have been observed by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Meanwhile, Royal Australian Navy ships have set out for a regional presence deployment to Southeast and Northeast Asia. Read More
The path of Chinese fighters flying near Taiwan. Taiwan MND
Chinese warships and military aircraft surged toward Taiwan in a record show of force on Monday, according to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense. Read More
CNS Shandong (17). JMSDF Photo
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Shandong Carrier Strike Group returned to the South China Sea on Friday, according to a release by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. At the same time, five of the eight PLAN surface ships that had entered the Philippine Sea Monday via the Miyako Strait returned to the East China Sea Friday by the same route. Meanwhile, Western media outlets are reporting that Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is under investigation for corruption and will likely be removed from office. Read More
A Taiwanese destroyer monitoring the People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17). Taiwan Ministry of Defense Photo
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Philippine Sea, being shadowed separately by Republic of China Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, according to both countries. Read More
CNS Shandong (17) underway on Sept. 10, 2023. JMSDF Photo
Five months after it made its first deployment to the western Pacific, People’s Liberation Army Navy carrier CNS Shandong (17) is back conducting drills, according to Taiwan Ministry of National Defense. Also on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported a total of eight PLAN ships transited the Miyako Strait to enter the Philippine Sea. Read More
HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341), JS Izumo (DDH-183) and USS Ralph Johnson underway in the East China Sea. JMSDF Photo
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer shadowed U.S., Japanese and Canadian warships as they conducted a trilateral exercise in the East China Sea on Wednesday according to an report by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Meanwhile, on Friday, the Philippines successfully carried out a resupply mission to its outpost at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands, despite opposing actions by China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia ships. Read More
JS Izumo (DDH-183), destroyer JS Samidare (DD-106) and an Oyashio class submarine. JMSDF Photo
Japanese naval units carried out antisubmarine warfare drills in the South China Sea on Monday while the U.S and Philippine navies conducted a joint sail in the South China Sea the same day. Meanwhile, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commenced the joint naval and marine forces drill Blue Strike 2023 on Sunday, which takes place around the Gulf of Thailand and Eastern Thailand. Read More
A Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-35A Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter in 2021. JSDF Photo
Japan’s Ministry of Defense requested on Thursday a record defense budget of $53 billion for Fiscal Year 2024, an increase over FY2023’s budget of $46.8 billion. The increased request reflects the Kishida administration’s intention to boost defense spending and capabilities over the next five years, though the final decision will be made by the Finance Ministry in December. Read More
North Korean ICBM. KCNA Photo
North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast this week, with its military stating that the launch was in response to a joint flight the same day by U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers and Republic of Korea Air Force fighter jets. Read More
USS Benfold (DDG-65), JS Haguro (DDG-180) and ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992) underway on Aug. 28, 2023. JMSDF Photo
The U.S., Japan and South Korea conducted a trilateral ballistic missile defense exercise in the East China Sea on Tuesday in response to North Korea’s failed satellite launch last week. Read More
