Australia: The Report by the ABC, took place after five Australian naval ships joined US and Japanese forces in a joint exercise in the Philippine Sea.
The details around what’s been described as an unintentional interaction are scant but it comes as tensions between China and Western nations continue to rise, with the US Defence Secretary Mark Esper declaring America will step up its challenges to Beijing's territorial claims in the region, calling them unlawful.
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The encounter with Chinese authorities took place some time last week after Australian war ships joined USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which includes the US Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam and guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki.
The ships were travelling to Hawaii where they will conduct war games.
The 🇦🇺 Task Group has joined the 🇺🇸 and 🇯🇵 in the Philippine Sea prior to transiting to Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC. An important opportunity to exercise at sea with our close friends in support of our shared views of a prosperous, open & stable region. ➡️ https://t.co/jfieE4J8ga pic.twitter.com/fU6KkqNb4z— Department of Defence (@DeptDefence) July 21, 2020
Head of the Australian Joint Task Group, Commodore Michael Harris, said the opportunity to work alongside Japan and the US was invaluable. “Maintaining security and safety at sea requires navies to be able to cooperate seamlessly,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
“The combined activities between our navies demonstrates a high degree of interoperability and capability between Australia, Japan and the US.”
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