Joint drills are underway in the Philippine Sea between two U.S. aircraft carrier groups and a Japanese helicopter carrier ship, the U.S. 7th Fleet said.
U.S. Navy's carrier strike groups led by the flagships USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise are conducting a multi-large deck event "in accordance with international law in international waters," the fleet said in a press release.
The exercise provided the two maritime forces with “an opportunity to engage in joint operations to include enhanced maritime communication operations, air warfare operations and cross-deck flight operations to strengthen maritime integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness,” it added.
The drills began on Monday and will conclude on Thursday, according to a statement by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Besides the two aircraft carriers, the U.S. Navy also dispatched nine other warships to join the event.
During the exercise, ships and aircraft from the allied forces conduct “air defense drills, sea surveillance, cross-deck exercises and tactical maneuvers to advance unique high-end warfighting capability,” the 7th Fleet said, adding that coordinated maritime engagements and operations in the Philippine Sea are “part of the U.S. Navy’s routine presence in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Carl Vinson and Theodore Roosevelt carrier groups are currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
The last time two U.S. aircraft carriers jointly participated in a similar exercise was in November with the Carl Vinson and the Ronald Reagan.
U.S. and Japan’s maritime forces plan to hold more large-deck exercises this year.
Beijing has yet to respond to the news on the drills in the Philippine Sea, not far from the South China Sea where Chinese vessels have been entangled in confrontations with Philippine coast guard ships.
Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan