China has an aggressive posture in the South China Sea, the world's largest military, an ever modernizing and threatening navy, and a fearsome domestic ballistic- and cruise-missile program. But there is one thing that it can't buy, build, or claim as its own: allies.

In the video below, the US leads submarines, destroyers, white hulls, amphibious assault vessels, and more in what has to be one of the most powerful naval formations of all time as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016.

Forty-five surface ships, five submarines, and more than 200 aircraft from 26 nations participated in the entire exercise from start to finish, and even China sailed with the group for the early portion.

In the clip, you see Japanese and Chinese war ships, South Korean submarines, coast-guard ships, and all manner of naval power in a tight formation in the royal-blue waters of the Pacific. Of course, the formation is led by a US aircraft carrier, the premier source of naval power projection today. The US' allies carried on into the ocean off of Hawaii and carried out high-end warfighting drills to build readiness and interoperability.

Though China has an impressive grip on the South China Sea with its militarized islands and radar outposts, unilateral action can get it only so far. With China's immediate neighbors disputing their claims, the only multilateral, peaceful way forward is through international cooperation — the kind on display here at RIMPAC:

RIMPAC 2016 runs from June 30 to August 4.