15 August 2015

News Story: Japan, US to conduct joint military drill in California

Chang Kuo-wei and Staff Reporter

About 1,100 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will participate in a joint military drill with the United States from late August to early September in California, simulating the recapture of a remote island.

The SDF's participation in the upcoming drill and in a recent joint military exercise held by US and Australian forces in the South China Sea is part of Japan's efforts to build its capability to defend remote islands, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

In the California drill, called Dawn Blitz, an SDF team will practice delivering weapons and supplies, landing on a remote island by helicopter and launching air-cushioned landing craft from an Maritime SDF vessel, according to the report.

Read the full story at Want China Times