Sources revealed that Japan’s Land Self-Defense Force is coordinating with the U.S. Marine Corps and the French Army to conduct joint military exercises, which will be held at the earliest in May this year at the Kirishima exercise site in Ezo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and Chungmizu Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. According to analysis, Japan’s move is hoped to restrain China through multilateral cooperation, and this will be the first Time that the land forces of the three countries will officially train in Japan.
According to Kyodo News, Japan is coordinating with the U.S. and France and local authorities on the size, training content and schedule of the participating troops. However, the exercise may be postponed until after June due to the impact of Wuhan pneumonia (novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19). It is understood that The Japanese Land Self-Defense Force has recently been strengthening cooperative relations with countries other than the United States, including the acceptance of liaison officers sent by the Australian Army, as well as assistance in instructing civil engineering techniques for the Army of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
According to reports, the exercise will be the first time that land forces from the United States, Japan and France will conduct formal training within Japan. The source noted that the training will be held in mid-May this year, and discussions are currently underway regarding helicopter training for transporting crews and supplies, as well as simulated combat training at market facilities in the exercise site. In addition, Japan’s Land Self-Defense Force will also send a special unit for the defense of the outlying islands, “Surface Mobile Corps” to participate.
Recent Comments