Japan-US-France war exercises against increasing Chinese aggression

Tokyo: – Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi announced, ‘France too agrees with the stand for open and free Indo-Pacific Sector. Therefore, France will be participating in the war exercises to be held between the militaries of Japan and the United States for the first time.’ Although the Japanese Defence Minister did not announce, the international media is claiming that these war exercises are against the increasing Chinese aggression in the sector. France also has increased its participation in the Indo-Pacific sector in the last few weeks, and a French warship and submarine had patrolled this area a few days ago.

Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF), meaning army, US marines and the French military, will be holding joint war exercises in the next month. The practices will be held at the Ainoura military base and Kirishima training ground in southwest Japan. Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi informed the media that these exercises would be held between 11th and 17th May.

Japan has held war exercises with the United States and also with the QUAD members, India and Australia. Independent exercises with South Korea and ASEAN also have been held. Defence Minister Kishi said that this is the first time Japan will be having the participation of a country beyond the Indo-Pacific sector in joint war exercises. Kishi claimed that this would be a valuable experience for the Japanese army.

The Japanese Defence Minister reminded that although France is not from the Indo-Pacific, it has its interests tied to the Indo-Pacific. France has two islands in the region, Reunion in the Indian Ocean and French Polynesia in South Pacific. French warships keep sailing in this region for the security of these islands. Defence Minister Kishi said that, therefore, France agrees to the Japanese stand of free and open Indo-pacific sector. Defence Minister Kishi claimed that the Japanese army would acquire essential skills necessary for the islands’ security in the Japanese marine limits through these exercises.

Only last week, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited the United States. During his visit, Japan and the United States had announced to stand united against the Chinese threat. Prime Minister Suga had accused China of attempting to change the South and East China Sea situation, using military aggression. After that, just within a week, Japan seems to have challenged China by organising joint war exercises with the United States and China.