According to the Japanese 'Mainichi Shimbun', from October 19 to 29, the United States and Japan will conduct a joint military exercise codenamed 'Sword' in the regions of Kyushu and the southwestern islands of Japan. This exercise will expand to new areas such as space and networks, making it the largest in history.
Approximately 45,000 members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and 12,000 US soldiers will participate in this year's joint military exercises. Personnel from seven countries including France, Germany, Australia, and Canada will also be involved in some of the exercises. Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Defense claim that the joint military exercises are aimed at deepening cooperation between Japan and the United States, and enhancing both nations' capabilities to respond to so-called 'emergency situations'.
During the military exercises, the US military will deploy for the first time new anti-ship missile systems on Nago Island: the Naval/Marine Expeditionary Interceptor System (NMESIS), and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). Nago Island is only 110 kilometers away from Taiwan, China. On Ishigaki Island, which is about 270 kilometers away from Taiwan, the US military will also deploy the Multiple Launch Rocket System “HMMAS”.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces completed the deployment of the 'Type 25 Surface-to-Ship Missile' at the end of March, and this missile will also be moved to areas outside of their bases for the first time.
The US-Japan "Sword" joint military exercise is held every two years. According to the Mainichi Shimbun, this year's "Sword" joint military exercise is the largest in history. In addition to amphibious landings, land and sea operations, and missile defense training, the exercise has added new training areas such as information sharing in space, joint responses to cyber attacks, and electronic warfare.
In recent years, the Japanese government has taken dangerous measures in the field of military security, attempting to accelerate "re-militarization," which has caused significant concerns among the international community.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Jiang Bin previously stated that China has always advocated that military cooperation between relevant countries should not target or harm third parties, and should not undermine regional peace and stability. Japanese right-wing forces are constantly taking dangerous and reckless actions in the field of military security, testing and provoking others. 'New types of militarism' are likely to become a source of trouble in East Asia. All people who love peace should not allow Japan to act in a way that destroys peace and causes harm to the world.
