US leads 31‑nation RIMPAC 2026 drills to counter China’s Pacific expansion

The 2026 RIMPAC exercise, anchored at Pearl Harbor, began on June 25 under US leadership. Thirty‑one nations fielded more than 30,000 personnel, 31 surface ships, five submarines and 197 aircraft. Highlights include the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, integration of unmanned surface vessels from Saildrone and HavocAI, and plans for the largest ever sinking exercise (SINKEX) in late July, targeting simulated Chinese warships such as the 075 amphibious assault ship and 055 destroyer.

China’s recent maritime actions—coast‑guard patrols in Taiwan’s east, deep‑sea mapping missions near the first island chain and carrier‑based training in the western Pacific—have prompted allied deterrence measures. Japan, citing Chinese carrier deployments and the need for unmanned surveillance, is accelerating its own Pacific defence posture. The coordinated drills aim to enhance interoperability and demonstrate the ability to neutralise potential Chinese naval threats across the region.