The Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force is undertaking its largest military exercises in 30 years. This comes as tensions in the region have been rising over a number of flashpoints.
The drills involve some 100 000 personnel, 20 000 vehicles and 120 aircraft. They included realistic, unscripted wargames.
‘The current security environment surrounding Japan is extremely severe’, Lt. Gen. Yuichi Togashi, Commanding General of the 2nd Division of the JGSDF was quoted as saying ‘We, the Self-Defense Forces, are required to enhance the effectiveness of operations.’
Although no country was identified as the chief source of concern, tensions between Japan and both North Korea and China have been growing in past years.
A CNN report noted that Hijudai Manoeuvring Area has features similar to that of the country’s southern islands. Territorial disputes with China would mean that they could be the site of conflict in the event of war.
Meanwhile, a joint Chinese and Russian naval flotilla sailed around the Japanese island, and along its east coast. The Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times, said that from this position ‘China and Russia could reach the US Navy base in Yokosuka, headquarters of the US Seventh Fleet, from which the US and its allies have been making many provocative moves in places like the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, observers said.’
In other developments, Akira Amari, secretary general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said that Japan needed to establish secure supply chains, so that the country is not dependent on hostile powers. ‘If we have supply chains in risky countries, we should shift them to our allies or produce at home even if it’s more expensive’, he said.