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April 22, 2026 | 7:00am
Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) maneuvers into formation with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) after taking on fuel from Canadian supply ship MV Asterix during a multilateral exercise with the Royal Australian Navy and Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026.
US Navy photo / John B. Hetherington
MANILA, Philippines — Australia, Canada and the United States conducted multilateral operations in the South China Sea, adding to allied military activity in the region as the Philippines and the US prepared to open this year’s Balikatan exercises.
The US Pacific Fleet said ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Armed Forces and US Navy carried out operations in support of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The Pacific Fleet said the operations took place from April 12 to 18, although the exact timing and specific location of each activity were not disclosed.
Participating war ships included the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba, the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown, a Royal Canadian Air Force Super Puma helicopter and the US Navy dock landing ship USS Ashland with embarked Marines from Task Force Ashland.
Canadian supply ship MV Asterix extends its fuel boom to Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) in front of Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) and U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a multilateral exercise with RAN and Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 14, 2026.
US Navy / John B. Hetherington
A Royal Canadian Air Force Super Puma assigned to Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) prepares to land on the flight deck of U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a multilateral exercise with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Armed Forces in the South China Sea, April 18, 2026.
US Navy / Maliq J. Martin
The US Navy said the vessels conducted tactical maneuvers, helicopter cross-decks and personnel exchanges during their combined transit through the South China Sea.
Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of USS Ashland, said the operations gave allied forces “any chance to engage with our allies and friends” while improving interoperability and information-sharing.
Peeples also said the sailors and Marines involved were “dedicated to supporting regional security.”
Balikatan backdrop
The operations came shortly before the April 20 opening of Balikatan, the annual Philippines-US military exercises that run until May 8.
Tthis year’s US-Philippines Balikatan is the largest-ever iteration of the joint drills, with more than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the United States and allied countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand.
The expanded exercises are expected to test maritime strike, air and missile defense, multinational operations and live-fire scenarios across the Philippine archipelago.
The South China Sea operations also build on earlier allied engagements, including the 2024 Rim of the Pacific exercises, where Australia, Canada and the US were among 29 nations that trained to improve cooperation in securing sea lanes, the US Navy said.
The activities underscore continued allied presence in waters where Beijing asserts sweeping claims rejected by a 2016 arbitral ruling, and where the Philippines has repeatedly reported confrontations involving Chinese vessels. — Camille Diola
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