Japanese, US and French troops have kicked off their first-ever joint military drill in southwestern Japan, following concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
The drills, which include fighter jet and amphibious operation exercises, will be held in the Kyushu region and at sea with virus countermeasures.
A Japanese submarine and 10 surface ships; six Japanese, two French, one American and one Australian, will be used, according to a French naval official.
It comes as Tokyo looks to deepen defence ties beyond its key US ally and with eyes on Beijing’s moves in the East and South China seas.
Head of the Institute of World Studies at Takushoku University, Takashi Kawakami told Newsmen that the drill is no doubt a deterrent to China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the region.
He said in the long term, European commitment in the Indo-Pacific could lead to closer ties between Japan and NATO, something former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated.
China claims the majority of the South China Sea, invoking its so-called nine-dash line to justify what it says are historic rights to the key trade waterway.
Japan has long said it feels threatened by China’s vast military resources and territorial disputes.
It is particularly concerned by Chinese activity around the Japanese-administered Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyus.
France has strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific including territories like Reunion in the Indian Ocean and French Polynesia in the South Pacific.
Japan has rarely held joint military drills with European counterparts, but both a British aircraft carrier and German frigate are expected to be sent to the Indo-Pacific region later this year.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
