Destroyers, fighter jets and 34,000 troops are to take part in a huge exercise aimed at bolstering Japan's ability to protect its remote islands amid a territorial spat with China.
The wargames, which will include live-firing, come as Tokyo steps up its global PR campaign by posting videos it hopes will swing world opinion behind its claims to two archipelagos that are the focus of disputes with Beijing and Seoul.The air-sea-land drill from November 1-18 will involve amphibious landings on the uninhabited atoll of Okidaitojima, 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of the main Okinawan island, a defence ministry official said.
Live-fire exercises involving destroyers and F-2 fighter jets will also be conducted, he said. The island is a considerable distance from the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims as the Diaoyus.
However, defence force chiefs are considering deploying short-range land-to-sea missiles on the island of Ishigaki, which lies 150 kilometres from the disputed islands, the Asahi and Fuji TV networks said. Both broadcasters said there were no plans to fire weaponry there.
NewsOnJapan
Live-fire exercises involving destroyers and F-2 fighter jets will also be conducted, he said. The island is a considerable distance from the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims as the Diaoyus.
However, defence force chiefs are considering deploying short-range land-to-sea missiles on the island of Ishigaki, which lies 150 kilometres from the disputed islands, the Asahi and Fuji TV networks said. Both broadcasters said there were no plans to fire weaponry there.
NewsOnJapan
