The Rim Of The Pacific Exercise or RIMPAC is the largest naval exercise in the world. These years, in its latest edition 27 countries of the world will take part and showcase their naval might to each other and send strong messages to the enemies of democracy, mainly the CCP or Chinese Communist Party. This year, the RIMPAC will commence on 29th June and it will continue till 4th August. The exercises will take place around the Hawaiian Islands and the Southern shores of California.
This year, India will also participate with a Shivalik Class Stealth Frigate, INS Sahyadri, and P8i Submarine Hunter Planes. But, this year’s RIMPAC will be different from any previous battle games. China or CCP, Russia, and North Korea will be watching the exercises closely. The RIMPAC exercises will also be considered as a response to the recent Russia-China Joint Naval Exercises near the Japanese shores. Japan took the exercise as a fresh provocation and Taiwan took it as a practice match for invasion.
So, as you see, everyone has something to say about this 28th edition of RIMPAC. We will try our best to cover all the points. We will also keep you posted about the exercises and performances of the participants.
But before moving any further let us learn a thing or two about the RIMPAC exercises.
What is RIMPAC?
You already know that RIMPAC or Rim of Pacific Exercises is the largest naval exercise in the world. It took off back in 1971 and in 2022 it will be the 28th Edition of this exercise. Previously, RIMPAC didn’t have a fixed frequency of occurrence but from 1974, it has started to take place every two years. The RIMPAC headquarters is located in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which makes the United States the host of the whole war games.
RIMPAC is not only for showcasing, naval might, or power projection. It is to learn about the work process of other nations’ navies so, that when war comes each nation will already be informed about each other style of war fighting.
At the first RIMPAC, there were Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. But only Australia, Canada, and the USA are the three nations that have participated in all the RIMPAC editions.
India used to be an observer and honored guest of RIMPAC but since 2012 along with Ecuador, the Philippines, and Mexico; India became a regular participant in this naval exercise. This year, India will not only represent herself, but India will also represent the QUAD alliance.
This year, Taiwan or the Republic of China was invited for the very first time. The other 26 nations are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, UK, and the USA. So, there will be participants from all over the world.
This year, the RIMPAC will kick off from Peral Harbor, Hawaii, and end in San Diego, California.
The NATO Members’ Point of View:
The USA, UK, France, Germany, and Denmark are the five NATO members who will be participating in this war game. For these five nations, this war game is simply a message conveying an opportunity to show unity among NATO members.
As Turkey or Türkiye is showing and walking a different path now at this critical point of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This could be a great photo-op for the other NATO members.
NATO is continuously supporting Ukraine, and a few days ago Russia and China made a naval exercise close to the Japanese naval borders, RIMPAC 2022 could be a great way to send a strong message to them.
Japan and South Korea’s Point of View:
Japan is currently under pressure from China, Russia, and North Korea. As all these countries are basically at Japan’s border and by law, Japan cannot establish a regular military RIMPAC could be a way to show reassurance that at least western nations and NATO nations will help Japan if they come under fire from either of China, Russia or North Korea.
In the last few weeks, North Korea has tested 8 missiles that landed close to the Japanese shorelines. In reply, South Korea successfully test-fired 8 missiles. So, Japan and South Korea can also show some unity against North Korea.
South Korea and Japan have had a long dispute due to the Japanese occupation of Korea, but now the situation is different, we can hope that these two important members of democratic nations come closer with the upcoming naval exercises.
The USA on the other hand is pushing for Japan’s membership in NATO. If this happens, it can change several parameters of the world.
China or in better words CCP’s Point of View:
Just like the last RIMPAC in 2020, China will closely monitor the exercises from a distance. Although, according to some sources they were invited to this event they have denied it. Now, China is issuing comments on the exercises via their mouthpieces like Global Times.
But the biggest message from China is weighing 80,000 tons. It is their latest Fujian Class Type 003 Aircraft Carrier. It is the most advanced aircraft carrier China has ever built. It is a direct threat to Taiwan, Japan, and the USA and also to India.
But as 5 South China nations, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines are joining the RIMPAC, China should seriously resketch its invasion plans for Taiwan.
Russia’s Point of View:
Russia had joined the RIMPAC 2012 edition but after that, the relationship with the West went south. This year, Russia wasn’t even invited due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s message for the RIMPAC is already delivered near the Sea of Japan at the South China Sea and Philippines Sea, with Destroyers Marshal Shaposhnikov and Admiral Panteleyev, Corvettes RFS Sovershennyy (333), RFS Gromkiy (335), RFS Gremyashchiy (337) and RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339) and Marshal Krylov.
Russia has clearly hinted that they are ready to take on any naval aggression that may come from NATO and other nations.
India’s Point of View:
India has two huge shorelines in the East and West. Indian Navy is considered one of the most professional and capable naval fleets in the world. But with just one Aircraft Carrier and one active Nuclear Submarine, it is almost impossible for India to assert power outside the Indian territorial waters. So, India can learn a lot of things from the friendly navies and can become stronger. India’s indigenous stealth frigate Sahyadri and P8i planes can play an effective role in this RIMPAC exercise.
The Main Objective of RIMPAC 2022:
According to the US Navy or the host, there will be amphibious operations, gunnery operations, missile testing, anti-submarine warfare, and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy operations, mine clearance exercises, explosive ordnance disposal, deep diving, and underwater salvage operations.
These are mainly the physical operations or showcases. The real messages will always be political and they will act against Russia, Iran, North Korea, and most importantly China.
Final Take:
India At War Believes, that India should participate more in this type of multi-lateral naval or military exercise to learn and improve its naval capacity and capabilities. As China is not even considering the Indian Navy as a serious threat to their naval operations and activities in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean or specifically the Indo-Pacific region.