North American Navies Conduct Exercise In South China Sea

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate HMCS Ottawa has carried out naval manoeuvres alongside U.S. Navy destroyer USS Higgins in the South China Sea.

Exercise Noble Wolverine took place across four days earlier this month and saw the American Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer engage in a series of operations alongside the RCN’s Halifax-class frigate.

As per a recent U.S. Navy press statement, the exercise — which included “maritime communications training and dynamic coordinated manoeuvering” — was carried out “in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“Operating alongside our Royal Navy partners shows a unified front,” said Capt. Justin Harts, Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. “We are committed to strengthening and demonstrating interoperability with our allies.”

And Cmdr. Adriano Lozer, commanding officer of HMCS Ottawa, added: “Exercise Noble Wolverine was, for our team, another successful integration between two highly trained and capable navies.

“The anti-submarine warfare, communications exercises and flying operations were seamless as usual, and occurred in the international waters of an area of the world where undisrupted movement of maritime trade is critical to the region and greater global community.” 

In recent days the Halifax-class frigate also sailed near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed island chain about 120 nautical miles west of Luzon; it is claimed as sovereign territory by both China and the Philippines. According to local media reports, recently the Chinese and Philippine coast guards have frequently engaged in “cat-and-mouse games” in the area.

As she neared Scarborough Shoal Scarborough the passing Canadian warship was closely shadowed by Chinese naval vessels, as per Canadian news outlet CTV News.

• You can read more details about Exercise Noble Wolverine on the U.S. Navy website