HMS Richmond had a drill with a frigate from the Vietnam People's Navy for the first time on Oct. 4.

Japan, France and the US will hold a joint military drill for the first time next year. The exercises, have conducted on one of Japan’s uninhabited outlying islands, will focus on providing relief efforts during a natural disaster, but parts could also form the basis for a defence against attack, the paper said.

India, the United States, Japan and Australia began their largest joint naval exercises in over a decade on Tuesday, seen as part of efforts to balance China’s vast military and economic power in the region.

China, Russia and Iran will hold joint naval drills starting on Dec 27-30 in the Gulf of Oman, Beijing and Tehran said.