Article Summary: In a rare show of force, the United States, Japan, and France have deployed three aircraft carriers—the USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles de Gaulle, and JS Kaga—for the Pacific Steller 2025 exercise in the Philippine Sea.
The Big Idea: This multinational naval drill aims to enhance coordination, project power, and deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. France’s participation is particularly significant—it’s the first time a French aircraft carrier has operated in the region since 1968. With China increasing tensions near the Philippines, this exercise sends a strong message about freedom of navigation and growing allied cooperation against Beijing’s ambitions.
France Joins U.S. and Japan in Massive Aircraft Carrier Drills Near China
It’s a trio of countries that don’t often work together for military objectives. Japan and the United States, plus a surprising companion – France – are holding naval exercises in East Asia.
But these aren’t ordinary drills; the countries are using aircraft carriers in a show of force to overawe China and remind Beijing that U.S. allies are stronger than ever in the Indo-Pacific.
Yes, three aircraft carriers are training together. China is not a happy camper.
What Is Pacific Steller 2025?
The training event is hosted by France and is known as Pacific Steller 2025.
The carriers are located in the Philippine Sea, a body of water in the Western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines.
The battle simulation started on February 8 and will run until February 18. The carriers working hard to improve readiness are the USS Carl Vinson, the FS Charles de Gaulle from France and JS Kaga from Japan.
The U.S. Navy said, “the exercise, which was a ‘multi-large deck event,’ is aimed at advancing coordination and cooperation between the three navies, promoting a shared dedication to regional stability, and demonstrating America’s power projection capability,” Newsweek noted.
China Continues to Bother the Philippines
China’s navy has been busy in the exclusive economic zone near the Philippines recently. Seven Chinese warships also patrolled in the Western Pacific Ocean, although China said this was not in response to the tri-carrier war games being executed by the United States, France, and Japan.
The United States, Japan, and France Are Trying to Foster Freedom of Navigation
The three allies said they wanted to avoid operating in the South China Sea, where China and the Philippines have competing territorial claims. The United States believes these exercises serve as a reminder that the three countries strive for peaceful operations that promote freedom of navigation in the area. But the allies still want to “deter our adversaries,” U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael Wosje, commander of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, said in a news release.
France Shows It Has Global Reach
French commanders are proud of their navy for operating outside of Europe. This is the first time an aircraft carrier from France has sailed in the region since 1968.
“While France is a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, it has not deployed its [carrier strike group] to this part of the world for a long time,” said Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, commander of the French carrier strike group.
Japan is in favor of a free and open Indo-Pacific, too, and is likely pleasantly surprised the Charles De Gaulle made such a significant journey to reach the Philippines.
More About the Three Aircraft Carriers
The Charles De Gaulle is the flagship of the French navy. It is the country’s first nuclear-powered ship and the only carrier outside the U.S. Navy that has nuclear propulsion.
The carrier deploys Dassault Rafale M fighter jets and a full complement of other support aircraft and helicopters.
Japan’s JS Kaga is more of a helicopter carrier or what the Japanese call a “helicopter destroyer.” It is going to transition to a light aircraft carrier by 2027. Then, the Japanese navy can fly the F-35B from its deck full-time. It tested F-35B operations in the fall of 2024.
(Feb. 10, 2018) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South Chna Sea. The Carl Vinson Strike Group is currently operating in the Western Pacific as part of a regularly schedule deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Jasen Morenogarcia/Released)
The USS Carl Vinson is the third Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carrier. The Carl Vinson took its maiden voyage in 1983. The aircraft carrier played a significant role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was the Carl Vinson that disposed of the body of Osama Bin Laden in a burial at sea in 2011.
Why This Aircraft Carrier Drill Mattes
I often refer to what I call the “Great Basin of Allies” in East Asia, which are working together to blunt Chinese naval power in the region.
Japan is one of these U.S. friends that has a powerful self-defense force including a modernized navy, but I do not mention France in this group, so I was glad to see them participate.
This is an impressive feat for a NATO member to transit in East Asia. It shows how important the rivalry with China has become to countries around the world.
France can project power thousands of miles away from its homeport and successfully conduct exercises with Japan and the United States. The Americans and Japanese are likely tickled to have an ally with such a good carrier in East Asia. This shows China that allied forces are aligned against it and for them to think twice about harassing the Philippines.
The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transit the Philippine Sea during a photo exercise with multiple carrier strike groups, Oct. 3, 2021. The integrated at-sea operations brought together more than 15,000 Sailors across six nations, and demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to work closely with its unmatched network of alliances and partnerships in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Jarmiolowski) 211003-N-LI114-1208.
Look for even more multinational naval exercises to be held with the United States and Japan plus other countries.
France should be commended for having the backbone and the wherewithal to transit that far with its carrier. While the Europeans have trouble in their neighborhood with Russia, countries like France are still willing to help out the United States and Japan in East Asia, and that is a huge advantage in the allied efforts to thwart China.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
