US Coast Guard Teams Up With Allies Amid China Escalation
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A United States Coast Guard ship has arrived in Northeast Asia as it prepares to conduct a joint exercise with South Korean and Japanese counterparts amid escalating maritime assertiveness by China.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email.
Why It Matters
USCGC Stratton, a U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter, has been deployed in the western Pacific Ocean since early May. It arrived in the Philippines—a U.S. treaty ally with territorial disputes against China in the South China Sea—two weeks ago for an exercise.
South Korea and Japan—American treaty allies—face maritime challenges from China, with the East Asian power installing structures in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, and unilaterally declaring "no-sail zones" near the Korean Peninsula, raising concerns.
What To Know
U.S. Naval Forces Korea announced that the Stratton arrived at Busan naval base in South Korea on Thursday for a trilateral engagement with South Korean and Japanese coast guards to improve their "interoperability and collaboration" in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise—scheduled to run from May 29 to June 2—is focused on joint search and rescue, in accordance with an agreement reached last year that aims to strengthen coordination among the three parties for maritime disaster response, according to the South Korean coast guard.
The Stratton is also expected to conduct a second trilateral drill in Japan, which will involve the Japanese and Philippine coast guards, the U.S. Embassy in Manila previously revealed.
The United States Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC Stratton arrives at Busan naval base in South Korea on May 29, 2025.
The United States Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC Stratton arrives at Busan naval base in South Korea on May 29, 2025.
Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Robert A. Moses/U.S. Navy
"Consistent U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter deployments to the region demonstrate the U.S. commitment to strong maritime governance that supports security, freedom, and prosperity in the Western Pacific," the U.S. Coast Guard said.
During its months-long deployment, the Stratton is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the U.S. Seventh Fleet's principal surface force, the U.S. Coast Guard added. The Japan-based fleet maintains America's naval presence in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
In addition to trilateral coast guard exercises, the U.S. and its Northeast Asian allies have regularly conducted joint naval drills. In mid-March, an American aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, joined the Japanese and South Korean navies for a war game in the East China Sea.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area told Newsweek: "Stratton is currently deployed under the tactical control of [Destroyer Squadron] 15 and seeks to strengthen global maritime governance to preserve sovereignty, share information, facilitate force-multiplying partnerships, and demonstrate professionalism to reinforce the rule of law at sea."
A South Korean coast guard official said on Wednesday: "This drill is even more meaningful in that it is the first joint exercise led by the ROK Coast Guard and it is an opportunity for the three countries to share real-time information and check rescue response systems as if it were a real battle."
ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea.
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how the U.S. Coast Guard will maintain its presence in the western Pacific Ocean in addition to its role of stopping the flow of illegal migrants and drugs to the U.S. by sea.
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