The USS Carl Vinson hosted an annual multinational naval exercise led by Japan and included the Philippines as an observer for the first time. This inclusion came in the wake of Filipino coast guard vessels being increasingly harassed by China in the disputed South China Sea. The Annualex exercises, which began off Japan’s coast, also featured the participation of the United States, Australia, and Canada. The primary goals of these exercises were to demonstrate and increase cooperative efforts among the various navies, as well as to show their presence and commitment to defend a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.
During the exercise, a group of journalists, including The Associated Press, flew on a V-22 Osprey aircraft to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. From there, they observed takeoffs and landings of F-35C “Lightning” stealth fighters, as well as F/A-18 Super Hornet jets and E/A-18 Growlers. The Japanese destroyer Hyuga also demonstrated its presence next to the carrier.
The annual naval exercise occurred as the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard ship and accompanying vessels of engaging in dangerous maneuvers and blasting a Philippine supply ship with a water cannon. The exercise aimed to address territorial conflicts in the South China Sea involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
U.S. Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas expressed the importance of multilateral exercises, highlighting that the more the navies work together, the greater the security for the region. Japan and the United States have expanded defense cooperation to include Australia and the Philippines. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to start negotiations on a key security pact that would allow their troops to enter each other’s territory for joint military exercises.