Japan to join US-led military drill on capturing island territory The Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) will be taking part in a California-based military training exercise led by the U.S., and including Canada and New Zealand, from June 10 until the 26. The Dawn Blitz 2013 will be the first year for Japan to participate, as well as see all the involved nations have their troops take part in amphibious assault training. “The exercise is aimed at improving the integrated operation capabilities of the SDF and maintaining and improving bilateral capabilities with the U.S. military,” said a public affairs official from the SDF Joint Staff Office. Five personnel from the Air Self Defense Force will be joining the exercise, while the Maritime Self Defense will have 730 personnel deployed, followed by 250 ground personnel. Three warships and seven combat helicopters have been sent for the exercises, taking place at Camp Pendleton. Japan also sent 40 ground SDF personnel to Guam last September for a smaller amphibious military exercise. Col. Grant Newsham of the US Marines finds Japan’s participation in the Dawn Blitz historic. “Now, eight months later we have three MSDF vessels, two of them amphibious ships, with 250 GSDF troops with their equipment and helicopters aboard, sailing across the Pacific Ocean to southern California to train with each other and with the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy in a much more complex amphibious exercise. This is unprecedented,” Col. Newsham said, comparing operations to those held in Guam. It is expected that the SDF’s move aims to be equipped with the necessary skills to protect Japan’s maritime territories. Some find SDF’s participation a move to counter China, which is known to have dispute with Japan over a group of islands in East China Sea. Others are even wary that Japan may offend China. Tetsuo Kotani, a specialist in maritime matters at The Japan Institute of International Affairs, believes that China will not remain silent. “Beijing will likely ask Japan not to engage in activities that could exacerbate regional tensions,” he said. [via Wall Street Journal]
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:55:06 +0000
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