Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducted amphibious exercises at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii located in Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu on July 1 during the Rim of the Pacific joint naval exercise, according to the Tokyo-based Kyodo News.
RIMPAC 2014 marks the first time the JGSDF has participated in the biennial exercises now held during June and July of even-numbered years around Honolulu, Hawaii. The unit that participated in the drill was the first amphibious regiment of the JGSDF modeled after the United States Marine Corps. The newspaper reported that the primary mission of this unit is to fight a potential conflict with China over the disputed Diaoyutai islands (Senkaku to Japan, Diaoyu to China).
The regiment would be responsible for retaking the islands if they were to be invaded by the People's Liberation Army.
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