PUBLISHED on August 7, 2025, 2:35 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary – The U.S. and its allies have launched a massive nine-day naval exercise in the western Pacific, involving four aircraft carriers from the U.S., UK, and Japan capable of launching F-35 stealth fighters.
-The multilateral war game, which also includes Australia, Spain, and Norway, is widely viewed as a direct warning against China’s maritime expansion.
-Beijing has condemned the drill as an attempt to “contain China.”
-This major show of allied force is happening concurrently with the large-scale Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia and separate joint naval drills between China and Russia.
The F-35 Armada Has Arrived in China’s Backyard
The US, along with its NATO and Indo-Pacific allies, has conducted extensive exercises with four carriers capable of launching F-35 stealth fighter jets for a large-scale exercise at sea near China.
The multilateral war game, which commenced on Monday in the western Pacific, involves the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington, the amphibious assault ship USS America, the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales , and the Japanese aircraft carrier JS Kaga.
Japan’s Jiji Press stated in a report on Tuesday that the drill “is viewed as a warning against China’s maritime expansion.”
The nine-day training event involves the navies of the US, UK, Japan, Norway, Australia, and Spain. It is slated to conclude on August 12. Japan has recently taken possession of its first four F-35Bs.
While US and UK F-35s have taken off and landed on the UK carrier Prince of Wales, it is unknown if US or UK F-35s will take off and land on the Kaga.
However, the Royal Navy released a statement last week that said, “The next stage of the Carrier Strike Group deployment—codename Operation Highmast—focuses on air operations, with the U.K. force due to link up with a Japanese task group, to practice combined F-35 operations.”
China Says Exercise Threatens Peace and Stability
China responded as one would expect. A Chinese expert said on Wednesday that the drill undermines peace and stability in the region.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, said to the Global Times on Wednesday that the joint drill led by the US seriously undermines peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and these countries are forming cliques or factions in an attempt to contain China while hyping the so-called “China threat.”
“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War. Japan, as both an aggressor and a defeated nation in the war, should deeply reflect on its crimes committed in World War II rather than flexing its muscles as a de facto aircraft carrier,” Zhang said, adding that the US should not encourage Japan to break away from its post-war pacifist constitution.
US, Allies Practice Amphibious Landings In Australia
The US Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group 7 and three allied nations conducted amphibious landing training exercises during the 2025 Talisman Sabre exercise to simulate the unified defense of the first island chain against a potential adversary like China.
The US, Australia, South Korea, and Japan conducted a major amphibious assault, an amphibious raid, surface warfare combat operations, and strike warfare on training areas across coastal Australia during the multinational exercise.
Talisman Sabre involved 40,000 personnel from 19 nations, making this year the largest iteration of the annual training event yet. When the Australia-led exercise kicked off in 2005, it was a bilateral drill that included only the US and around 16,000 troops.
Meanwhile, China and Russia finish the joint maritime patrol exercise
The Chinese and Russians have deepened ties in recent years, joining in an alliance of convenience.
The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan aimed at “deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership” of the two countries, the Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement.
The Joint Sea 2025 exercises began near Vladivostok on Sunday and are set to last three days.
They include “submarine rescue, joint anti-submarine, air defense and anti-missile operations, and maritime combat,” China’s Defense Ministry said, adding that four Chinese vessels will participate in the exercises.
Zhang, however, insisted that, unlike the US-led joint exercise, the China-Russia drill aims to safeguard their own national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
The PLA Daily reported that during the maneuvers, the two navies established communication channels, exchanging real-time information on hydrography, weather, and air and sea surveillance.
On Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage featuring Zhang Zhiyang, duty officer aboard the Chinese destroyer Shaoxing, who reported encounters with aircraft and ships from third countries during the voyage and drills.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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