Four nation military drills involving U.S., British, French and Japanese troops were held around Guam and Tinian islands, U.S. islands that are about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) south of Tokyo and east of Manila, Philippines.
Main objective was to support for the free passage of vessels in international waters amid concerns China may restrict access to the South China Sea.
The exercises featured two French ships currently on a four-month deployment to the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Some 50 Japanese soldiers and 160 Japanese sailors participated, along with U.K. helicopters and 70 U.K. troops deployed with one of the French ships.