The United States and Japan will hold large-scale joint military exercises in November.

(Associated Press)

[Central News Agency] Japan's Ministry of Defense said today that a joint U.S.-Japan military exercise called "Sharp Sword" will be carried out in November.

Japanese media pointed out that this is because China is trying to unilaterally change the status quo by force, and the United States and Japan believe that it is necessary to improve the ability to protect the Southwest Islands of Japan.

Japan's Ministry of Defense's integrated staff and supervisory department (similar to the Ministry of National Defense Staff Headquarters) said today that the United States-Japan joint military exercise "Keen Sword" is scheduled to be held from November 10 to 19, Kyodo news agency reported.

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The Japanese Self-Defense Force will mobilize about 26,000 people and about 10,000 U.S. troops. The two sides will dispatch a total of about 30 ships and 370 aircraft.

In addition, British warships and aircraft and warships from Australia and Canada will also participate.

For the first time, the United States and Japan will conduct outlying island defense training on Tokunoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, and both the United States and Japan will dispatch Osprey.

The troops participating in the joint military exercise will conduct training in the form of confrontation between the offensive and defensive sides.

The Ministry of Defense pointed out that the "Sharp Sword" exercise is basically held every two years and is held at the facilities of the Self-Defense Forces and the US military stationed in Japan throughout Japan. It is the largest actual combat exercise between the United States and Japan.

MBC South Japan Broadcasting (TV) reported that during the "Sharp Sword" exercise on November 17 and 18 in Tokunoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, the Japanese Self-Defense Force's Amphibious (Amphibious) Mobile Regiment and the US Marine Corps were in Tokunoshima Town. Coastal and other places will implement outlying island defense drills, and the two sides will dispatch Osprey transport aircraft.

The report said that the United States and Japan held the "Sharp Sword" drill in 2020 on the uninhabited island of Crooked Island in Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture, but November will be the first time that the United States and Japan will hold an outlying island defense drill on Tokunoshima.

In addition, in Kagoshima's Amami Oshima, the U.S. military will use the "Hipmaster" Multiple Rocket System (HIMARS) for training.

Regarding this exercise, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said that it will strengthen its ability to deter resistance and respond with a strong will that does not allow attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force.

Japanese media pointed out that in view of China's maritime expansion operations, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military hope to enhance their joint operation capabilities in Japan's southwest archipelago to strengthen island protection.

About 30 ships and 370 aircraft will be dispatched in the US-Japan "Sharp Sword" military exercise. British warships and aircraft and warships from Australia and Canada will also participate.

The picture shows the multi-national naval and air force drills in the Philippine Sea in 2021.

(Associated Press)