People’s Army Liberation Navy (PLAN) destroyer CNS Baotou (133), amphibious assault ship CNS Guangxi (32), frigate CNS Anyang (599) and fleet oiler CNS Chao Hu (890) Japanese Ministry of Defense photo
Russian Navy and People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships have been conducting separate, unrelated transits of Japanese straits and sails around Japan over the week, according to Japan’s Joint Staff Office (JSO) of the Ministry of Defense releases.
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Anzac (FFH150) and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter destroyer JS Izumo sail together in the South China Sea as part of the Trident 23 exercise. JMSDF Photo
Australian and Japanese forces conducted exercise Trident 2023 over the weekend in the South China Sea. Read More
Sailors man the rails as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) approaches the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for a replenishment at sea in the South China Sea, June 17, 2023. US Navy Photo
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) will arrive in Danang, Vietnam on Sunday for a port call, making it the third time a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has called upon the country. USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) stopped in Vietnam in 2018, followed by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in 2020. Read More
Sailors man the rails as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) approaches the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for a replenishment at sea in the South China Sea, June 17, 2023. US Navy Photo
The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is operating in the South China Sea, according to imagery posted by the Pentagon over the weekend. Read More
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD-106) steam in formation during a multiple large deck event on June 9, 2023. US Navy Photo
The U.S., Japan, Canada and France exercised with two U.S. carriers and a Japanese big deck in the Philippine Sea last week as part of the Indo-Pacific Command’s Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE) 2023, Japan and the U.S. announced. Read More
Chinese H-6 and Russian T-95 bombers flying near Japan. JSDF Photo
Russian and Chinese bombers continued to fly missions around Japan and South Korea this week after an initial joint bomber mission on Monday, according to the Japanese and Russian defense ministries. Read More
A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear off Japan. Japanese MoD Photo
Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint mission over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea on Tuesday – marking their first joint bomber flight since November – during a summit between the U.S., India, Japan and Australia.
Meanwhile, the Russian Pacific Fleet sortied from Vladivostok on Monday for a series of exercises that will continue through June 20. At the same time U.S., Russian and Chinese warships are involved in a joint multilateral exercise in the Makassar Strait under the aegis of the Indonesian Navy. Read More
Chinese defense minister Gen. Li Shangfu in April 2023. Russian Defense Ministry Photo
China’s Minister of National Defense warned foreign powers not to operate warships and aircraft close to its territorial waters and blamed Washington for recent provocative encounters between U.S. and Chinese units. Read More
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin delivers regional defense leaders at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore., June 3, 2023. DoD Photo
The U.S. will support its allies and partners when they defend themselves against coercion and bullying in the Western Pacific, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a speech on Saturday. Read More
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is welcomed to the Japanses Ministry of Defense by Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2023. DoD Photo
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday said he welcomes any opportunity for engagement with China’s military leadership in the future, despite Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu declining to meet with him during the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
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