China Coastguard ships and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) corvette continue to operate around Philippine holdings in the Spratly Islands along with Chinese-flagged civilian ships, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday. Read More

A China Coast Guard cutter off the coast of Pag-asa Island on March 3, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard Photo
China reduced the number of ships off the disputed Spratly Islands archipelago Pag-asa, according to officials in the Philippines. Read More
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy off the coast of Pag-asa Island on March 3, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard Photo
A Chinese warship, a China Coast Guard ship and 42 Maritime Militia ships operated within the 12-nautical mile territorial sea around Pag-Asa Island, internationally known as Thitu island, in the Spratly Island archipelago Saturday, according to a Philippine Coast Guard statement. Read More
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) steams through the South China Sea. Nimitz in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations on Jan. 13, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group departed Singapore on Thursday after a port visit and is now back in the South China Sea, the Navy announced on Friday. Read More
Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on June 26, 2022 to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. U.S. Navy Photo
A total of 21 United States partner nation ships, including one submarine, from 14 countries are now docked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific 2022 (RIMPAC 2022) exercise that kicks off today.
Japanese officials are raising concerns over a ten-ship Russian naval group that transited from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan via the Tsugaru Strait between Honshu and Hokkaido on Thursday. Read More
Russian and Chinese ships were spotted by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Photos courtesy of the Japanese Joint Staff Office
Japan’s defense minister raised concerns about Russia’s recent naval activities in the Sea of Japan, citing the size of the exercise and increased tension with Ukraine.
This post is part of a series looking back at the top naval stories from 2021.
This year U.S. rivals and allies made major strides in developing expanded naval capabilities from expanding aircraft carrier capability to developing new hypersonic weapons. Read More
JS Kumano(FFM-2) left front view at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Tamano Shipyard Nov. 19, 2020.
Japan’s Cabinet approved a record 5.4 trillion yen (U.S. $47 billion) for its defense budget for fiscal year 2022, marking a record high for eight consecutive years, amidst Japanese concern about its capabilities to meet the threats posed by China, North Korea and Russia. Read More
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 helicopter lands on LPD FS Tonnerre (L9104) during the Jeanne D’Arc 2021 exercise in Japan. French Armed Forces Photo
KUALA LUMPUR – As France’s Jeanne D’Arc deployment nears its conclusion, the French are looking to continue high-end operations in the Indo-Pacific region, according to two French officials in command of the deployment. Read More