TOKYO - The United States, Japan, Australia and India began their joint Malabar naval exercise in waters off the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo on Thursday amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The four nations of the so-called Quad grouping aim to strengthen ties through the joint training, which runs through Nov. 12 and includes exercises involving responses to submarines and surface fleets, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force said.
"The security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex," Vice Adm. Katsushi Omachi, commander of Japan's Self-Defense Fleet, said at an opening ceremony aboard the helicopter carrier Ise, anchored at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo.
"Cooperation with like-minded countries is more important than ever," he added at the event attended by around 200 people from the four countries.
The Malabar exercise began in 1992 as a bilateral initiative between the U.S. and Indian navies, with the MSDF joining in 2007, according to the Japanese defense force.
Other participating vessels include Japan's Mogami frigate, a U.S. amphibious transport dock ship and frigates from India and Australia, the MSDF said.
