In a break from past practice, the United States did not send an aircraft carrier to its military drill with treaty allies Japan and South Korea last week.
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Some analysts said this suggested that the US was playing down the exercise to boost its dealings with China and North Korea.
Others highlighted the Trump administration’s insistence on greater contributions from Asian allies in its strategy to contain China within the strategically crucial first island chain.
The trilateral multi-domain exercise called Freedom Edge was held from September 15 to 19 in international waters east and south of South Korea’s southern island of Jeju, according to Seoul.
It was the third such drill between the three countries, following previous rounds last year. It also marked the first exercise since US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office earlier this year.
Earlier this month, the US Indo-Pacific Command said the exercise “demonstrates the countries’ shared commitment to collectively achieve and maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific”, while addressing “shared threats” inside the first island chain.
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