Australia and Japan conduct war games in contested areas of South China Sea

Asia-Pacific, News July 2, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The Royal Australian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted the Trident 2023 military exercise in the South China Sea from June 24-25, 2023. The war games took place in strategically contested waters as China’s People’s Liberation Army kept a close watch on the joint military activity.

Japan’s largest helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) participated in the exercise along with destroyer JS Samidare (DD-106). The Royal Australian Navy participated in the drills with HMAS Anzac (FFH150) frigate and P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

According to a statement released by JMSDF, the exercise focused on increasing interoperability in tactical operations including anti-surface and anti-air warfare. The statement said that the exercise was a part of Japan’s Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023 (IPD23).

24-25 JUN, #IPD23 JS IZUMO and JS SAMIDARE conducted a bilateral exercise (Trident23) with the Royal @Australian_Navy frigate HMAS ANZAC and RAAF P-8A in the South China Sea to improve their tactical capabilities and interoperability with the RAN and RAAF. #FOIP pic.twitter.com/M2mQCSKnnf
— JMSDF Self-Defense Fleet ENG (@JMSDF_SDF_ENG) June 27, 2023

The commander of Japan’s first surface unit of the IPD23, Rear Admiral Nishiyama Takahiro termed Australia as Japan’s ‘special strategic partner’. He said, “Like our country, Australia, an ally of the United States, is a special strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, sharing not only universal values but also strategic interests in security.”

He added that “The relationship between the JMSDF and the Royal Australian Forces has never been stronger and more important, and the JMSDF will promote further improvement of interoperability and mutual understanding with the Royal Australian Navy in order to improve the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The flight data of Australia’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft showed that the plane flew over the South China Sea from the Clark Air Base in the Philippines on June 24. The plane also crossed contested air space in the South China Sea that falls behind China’s nine-dash line. Some sources claimed that China’s People’s Republic Army Naval (PLAN) was closely observing the military activities in the region but did not interact directly with Australian or Japanese warships.

^{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. (Image Credit: JMSDF)}

Upon being asked about the presence of China’s naval forces, the Australian Department of Defense declined to answer. A spokesperson said that the department “routinely interacts with foreign militaries when operating in international airspace and international waters as a matter of course”.

Japan’s Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023

Japan’s largest destroyer, JS Izumo, is currently deployed in the South China Sea for the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023. During its deployment, Izumo made a port call at Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay accompanied by the destroyer Samidare.

The Japanese ship also participated in joint exercises in the South China Sea from June 10 to 14 with the U.S. Navy vessels and the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.