Japanese and US troops on Monday kicked off one of their largest joint exercises focusing on the defence of Japan’s southwestern islands and showcasing advanced weapons systems in the face of growing tension in the region.
About 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members are participating in the biennial Keen Sword 27. Seven other nations from the Indo-Pacific region and Europe are also taking part in some elements of the exercises, five of them — France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines — for the first time, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.
During the exercises, which run through October 29, the Japanese and US militaries will largely focus on defending Japan’s southwestern islands and waters around its northern coasts as the country faces growing tension from China, North Korea and Russia.
Japan considers China’s rapidly growing military activities in and around Japan, including in the Pacific Ocean, as a threat and has fortified its southwestern region with longer-range missiles and interceptors in recent years.
The drills include amphibious landing, air and missile defence, mine sweeping, as well as intelligence gathering, logistics and resupply and casualty evacuation on several remote islands, including Tanegashima. One of the key locations for the exercise is Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island just 110 kilometres (68 miles) east of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing calls its own territory.
Japan’s Self-Defense Force has introduced its first long-range Type-25 land-to-ship missile to Yonaguni during the drill, though no test-firing is planned. The missile has a range of about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) and is capable of reaching mainland China.
NMESIS, a US ground-based offensive anti-ship missile system, and MADIS, a short-range surface-to-air system, are also deployed to Yonaguni for the first time for the exercise. A mobile rocket launching system, HIMARS, has been deployed on the nearby island of Ishigaki.