India, Japan, the United States and Australia will hold the Malabar navy exercise off the coast of Sydney on Friday, the first time the war games previously held in the Indian Ocean have taken place in Australia.
Japanese and Indian navy vessels stopped in Pacific Island countries Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea on the way to Sydney, highlighting the strategic importance of the region at a time of friction between China and the United States.
Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, said at a press conference on Thursday in Sydney the exercise was "not pointed toward any one country" and would improve the ability of the four forces to work with each other.
"The deterrence that our four nations provide as we operate together as a Quad is a foundation for all the other nations operating in this region," Thomas said.
"Oceania, the island nations that are just northeast of Australia...all of our nations now are focusing on those countries," he added.
Indian Navy Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said there had been large changes in the world since the United States and India held the first Malabar Exercise in 1992 at the end of the Cold War.
When Australia participated for the first time in 2007, it "sent some signals around the world", he said.
Australia dropped out of the so-called Quad in 2008 after protests from China over its participation in Malabar. The Quad was revived and Australia rejoined Malabar in 2020, although China continues to criticise the grouping as an attempt to contain it.
"The Pacific is very important to us," said Australian fleet commander, Rear Admiral Christopher Smith.
"We understand people have ambition to continue to grow and develop... but its about transparency."
Ships from the four nations will be joined by Australian F-35 fighter jets, as well as P-8 surveillance aircraft and submarines.
"The underwater battle space is seen to be the front line in terms of competition and potential future conflicts", Smith said.
Malabar is being held off the east coast of Australia, instead of the west coast which faces the Indian Ocean, because ships were nearby after the larger Talisman Sabre exercise involving 13 nations which closed last week, he said.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023.
32 Comments
Mark
Where can I get one of these Jackets so I can look important?
stormcrow
Better late than never.
Things have been so peaceful in the Pacific for such a long that we forgot what a pushy and arrogant bully China would become.
Haaa Nemui
Maybe Donki? Make sure to get the extra bling.
Agreed. Regardless of how some people want to frame it, it’s long overdue. Complacency has been the way for far too long.
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
Where can I get one of these Jackets so I can look important?
Don't just restrict yourself to looking important - become important.
https://www.marines.com/become-a-marine/process-to-join/recruit-training.html
bass4funk
Probably after 20-30 years of blood, sweat and tears of fully committed military service, you’ll just get one.
wallace
You have to enlist first. But very few make it to the top ranks.
Rodney
If their job is kill people in the sea, shouldn’t they have light blue and white camouflage uniforms?
bass4funk
Admiral, yes, but there are less slots, but you still have other high ranking positions that are more easily attainable to achieve.
wallace
bass4funk
you have never served so it's all academic with you. Most of the enlisted are not officers. None or very few would make it to the lowest officer rank. Most high-ranking officers come from families with service, history, and connections.
deanzaZZR
Two questions, deterrence against what, and, do these nations want you there?
bass4funk
But a large portion of my family have and still are serving.
And?
You climb the ladder like in ever other occupation.
Well, it depends
That doesn’t always work, and it’s not always a guaranteed foot in the door to advancement.
wallace
I think you once mentioned you had a brother who had served. You have no personal experience yourself. You don't climb the ladder very far for most and certainly not the enlisted. When was the last time a junior rank even made captain?
What was the rank of your brother when he joined and how far was he promoted?
India still has a caste system. Japanese SDF is not enlisted, they are special civil servants.
Wick's pencil
I get the feeling it's not the greatest or smartest that make it to the top ranks. The great intellect Admiral Levine comes to mind.
gcFd1
A welcome collaboration.
You definitely never served mate.
wallace
Look who's back!
You know nothing about my military history. I served my country for four years in the RN.
bass4funk
And who’s a cop.
Directly, No, indirectly, Yes.
Well, I don’t know about your country or connections or what you think you know. But for some in my family, they worked hard to get the ranks they are in.
Again, depends
OF-1
Ok
isabelle
Not insecurity and fear: prudent readiness. We've seen time and time again what authoritarian nations do. Just look at Russia right now. The rest of us must be ready in case they push too far.
1) China 2) Yes
wallace
bass4funk
So not in the military then?
So please inform us of all the ranks of your family members when they joined and their ranks when they left. How many family members are in the military?
OF-1
That is a rank in NATO. Lowest rank for commissioned officers.
India still has a caste system. Japanese SDF is not enlisted, they are special civil servants.
Ok
Most enlisted will only be promoted two or three ranks and rarely to the rank of a commissioned officer.
wallace
bass4funk
In the US Navy, about 80% of the personnel are enlisted and 15% are commissioned officers. The other 5% are midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy and midshipmen of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at over 180 universities around the country.
bass4funk
I know the system, thanks
Coulda been
Yamanenko @ 8.05
And I suppose we can eagerly await China's usual response that it poses a dangerous threat to their internal security?
bass4funk
Well, there is a lot at play, who is chosen, supported, trusted, it’s not one person that ultimately decides who will be Admiral or even who they lead. But rest assured, whoever is the leader in this situation should be able to execute and lead a very capable group of men of various nations in defense of a growing Chinese threat.
wallace
The commander of these exercises will be Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
deanzaZZR
The article talks about the nations north of Australia. Going from east to west we have the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and then Indonesia. All of these countries have good and productive relations with China.
All three governments and the normal folk have traditionally been wary about the Aussie and American military in region. China is far away and Australia, newly christened with more US military equipment and troops are just over the horizon. Memories of European/White imperialism remain.
wallace
Yes, HMS Liverpool, HMS Mersey, and of course HMS Anfield where the real games happen.
bass4funk
Definitely something that can be denied.
wtfjapan
Where can I get one of these Jackets so I can look important?
donate 30+yrs of your life to the Navy in your country, you may just get one.
I can guarantee those gentlemen have earned their jackets
wallace
You'll just get one.
bass4funk
No, not really
Haaa Nemui
bass4funk and wallace - take a break
TaiwanIsNotChina
They are literally begging us to be there as long as their name is "China". The People's Republic for people who will cynically claim Taiwan doesn't want us there.