U.S., Japan, Philippines Conduct Joint Naval Drill as China Watches

The deployment of the USS Shoup and JS Noshiro to Scarborough Shoal represents the strength of the U.S.-Japan-Philippine alliance.

American warships joined their Japanese and Philippine counterparts in the South China Sea over the weekend in an effort to improve crisis readiness. U.S. secretary of defense Pete Hegseth arrived in Manila the same day, reaffirming the White House’s “ironclad” commitment to working collaboratively with the Philippines in terms of defense against the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer Shoup sailed alongside the Japanese frigate JS Noshiro as Philippine and American helicopters flew above. Hegseth commented, “All three countries are sailing together right now in the region … sending those signals of cooperation.” Hegseth said: “The broader our alliance, the better. The more security cooperation, the better … the more strategic dilemmas for our adversaries, the better.” The secretary of defense is set to visit Tokyo next week.

According to the PRC, the Chinese military also carried out military drills in the Pacific over the weekend. A “routine patrol” was conducted near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a spokesperson for the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reported. The uptick in Chinese hostile behavior in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone has certainly elevated geopolitical tensions in recent years. The recent Chinese drills were undoubtedly meant to coincide with the American-Japanese-Philippine exercise to serve as a warning.

USS Shoup (DDG 86)

USS Shoup is the sixteenth ship in its class of Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyers to be constructed for the Navy. Upon commissioning in the early 2000s, Shoup’s service history commenced. The destroyer has deployed to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea to the South Pacific. As an Arleigh Burke-class warship Shoup is a multi-mission destroyer capable of carrying out anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-aircraft warfare. Loaded with Aegis and the AN/SPY-1 radar system, Shoup continues to represent a lethal asset for the Navy. All Arleigh Burke warships are fitted with at least one Phalanx close-in weapon system, which provides critical defense against both surface and aerial threats.

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