Quad nations begin joint naval exercise amid China's growing assertiveness

The United States, Japan, Australia and India began their joint Malabar naval exercise in waters off the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo on Thursday amid China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.The four nations of the so-called Quad grouping aim to strengthen ties through the joint training, which runs through Nov. 12 and includes exercises involving responses to submarines and surface fleets, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force said."The security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex," Vice Adm. Katsushi Omachi, commander of Japan's Self-De…READ FULL ARTICLE