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A U.S. bearer onslaught group led by nan USS Theodore Roosevelt has held a three-day associated workout pinch its friends Japan and South Korea arsenic U.S. President Joe Biden met for talks pinch leaders from Japan and nan Philippines astatine nan White House. The dueling subject and negotiated maneuvers are meant to fortify nan partners' solidarity successful nan look of what they spot arsenic China’s fierce subject actions successful nan region.
A number of U.S. and South Korean guided rocket destroyers and a Japanese warship joined nan April 10-12 drill successful nan disputed East China Sea, wherever worries astir China's territorial claims are rising. The Associated Press was 1 of respective news organizations allowed a front-row look astatine nan drills.
Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commandant of Carrier Strike Group Nine, said nan 3 nations conducted undersea warfare exercises, maritime interdiction operations, hunt and rescue drills and activity focused connected connection and information sharing. He told journalists Thursday connected nan Roosevelt that these drills would thief amended connection among nan United States and its friends and "better hole america for a situation successful nan region."
WWIII COULD START OVER PHILIPPINES DISPUTE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA, CHINA 'NOT RESPECTING' TREATIES, EXPERT SAYS
F/A-18E Super Hornet combat jets took disconnected from nan carrier’s formation deck, which besides had anti-submarine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. Journalists were flown much than an hr from Kadena Air Base, nan hub of U.S. Pacific aerial power. Kadena is connected Japan's confederate land of Okinawa, which is location to astir half of nan 50,000 American troops stationed successful Japan.
"It is simply a engaged time; location is simply a batch going connected successful nan world," Alexander said. "The value of this workout is we person 3 like-minded countries, 3 like-minded navies that judge successful peace, information and stableness successful nan occidental Pacific."
In Beijing, nan Chinese Foreign Ministry said its director-general of Asian affairs had met pinch a apical Japanese Embassy charismatic connected Friday and expressed "serious interest and beardown dissatisfaction" astir Japan's "negative moves" during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's meetings successful Washington pinch Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Airmen are seen preparing an F-18E combatant pitchy to return disconnected from USS Theodore Roosevelt craft bearer connected April 11, 2024, during a three-day associated naval workout by nan U.S., Japan and South Korea successful nan East China Sea amid hostility successful nan region. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)
That followed earlier Chinese statements that accused nan U.S. and Japan of smearing China and urged them to extremity undermining location bid and stability, while saying China will "resolutely defend" its information and improvement interests.
The information of Japan and South Korea successful nan associated workout was different motion of improving ties betwixt nan sometimes wary neighbors. The 2 U.S. allies' narration has often been strained by nan representation of Japan's 35-year colonialism of nan Korean Peninsula. Washington has been pressing them to cooperate truthful nan 3 partners tin amended woody pinch threats from China and North Korea.
This week's huge parliamentary predetermination defeat of nan governing statement of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has sought amended relations pinch Japan, could constrain his Japan-friendly efforts, but experts judge ties will stay stable.
The drills focused connected improving nan 3 nations’ associated consequence capacity against North Korea’s expanding atomic and rocket threats, South Korea’s navy said successful a statement. It said nan navies conducted anti-submarine exercises to heighten their readiness against North Korean submarine threats and maritime interdiction training to believe blocking imaginable forbidden transfers of banned weapons by nan North.
The latest naval workout is portion of Biden's activity to deepen information and negotiated engagement pinch Indo-Pacific nations. Biden invited Kishida and Marcos to nan White House for their first trilateral talks Thursday, and has declared that nan U.S. defense committedness to nan Pacific friends is "ironclad."
Tensions betwixt China and nan Philippines person risen complete repeated clashes by nan 2 nations’ seashore defender vessels successful nan disputed South China Sea. Chinese seashore defender ships besides regularly attack disputed Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands adjacent Taiwan.
Beijing has defended its operations successful nan South China Sea and blamed nan United States for creating tensions. Chinese President Xi Jinping had a bid of talks this week pinch elder officials from Vietnam, Russia and Taiwan.
The U.S.-Japan-South Korea naval exercises travel four-way drills held successful nan South China Sea, wherever Japan joined nan United States, Australia and nan Philippines. Participants cautiously avoided mentioning China and said they were holding nan exercises to safeguard a serene and unchangeable Indo-Pacific.
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A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said Friday that China's activities successful nan South China Sea are "justified, lawful and beyond reproach" and accused nan U.S. of flexing its muscles successful nan region and building up anti-China cliques.
"These acts are irresponsible and highly dangerous," Senior Col. Wu Qian said successful a connection posted online.
An area of long-simmering disputes, nan South China Sea serves a cardinal oversea lane for world trade. Concerned governments see Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Taiwan.
