US joint drill with Japan, S Korea likely to unnerve China: experts
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The US-South Korea-Japan joint naval exercise in the East China Sea is aimed at improving joint operability against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The exercise involved six warships and focused on anti-submarine warfare training, maritime interception training, and search and rescue training. The trilateral naval exercises are also seen as a check on China's influence in the region, particularly on the Taiwan Strait issue. China is concerned that the drills are targeting itself and views the trilateral ties as inconvenient. Beijing's strengthened ties with Pyongyang are seen as transactional, given North Korea's pariah status and lack of transparency. China's attitude towards North Korea focuses on political and diplomatic cooperation to contain the trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan without risking military consequences.
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