US, Japan, South Korea, Australia Hold First Naval Drills in Western Pacific

US, Japan, South Korea, Australia Hold First Naval Drills in Western Pacific
One of China's man-made islands in South China Sea, May 21, 2015. U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters
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TOKYO—U.S. Navy ships conducted joint drills with warships from allies Japan, Australia and South Korea in their first combined exercise in the Western Pacific, the U.S. Navy said on May 23.

The Pacific Vanguard exercise near the U.S. island of Guam takes place ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan this weekend, as Washington looks to allies in Asia to help counter China’s military might in the region.