<< PACIFIC OCEAN (June 14, 2013) MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 land aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship JS Shimokita during Dawn Blitz 2013. (Image: Wiki Commons)
By Ankit Panda
Japan will conduct its first major island defense exercise, using a real uninhabited island.
Despite heightened tensions with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute, Japan will press ahead with a scheduled military exercise that will simulate the defense of an island from amphibious invaders. The Japanese Defense Ministry reaffirmed Tokyo’s intention to carry on with the exercise. The exercise demonstrates Japanese seriousness about preparing for a potential skirmish or broader conflict against China over the disputed islands.
According to Reuters, the exercises will run from May 10 to 27 on a “small uninhabited island in the Ryukyu chain, some 600 km (375 miles) northeast of the disputed isles.” Furthermore, some parts of the exercise will be held in Nagasaki prefecture, in southwestern Kyushu, and others will take place in waters off the coast of Okinawa’s eastern coast. Okinawa is also where the United States maintains a massive troop presence and military base.
While Japan has conducted similar exercises in the past, according to Reuters, this will be the first time that the Japanese military will use an actual uninhabited island as part of the island defense training exercise. The exercise will incorporate the Ground, Air, and Maritime Self-Defense Forces. ” About 1,300 troops, as well as several fighter jets and destroyers, will practice landing on and retaking the island,” according to Reuters.
Read the full story at The Diplomat