Japan and the United States have commenced a 10-day series of joint military exercises on Wednesday, involving tens of thousands of troops. The operation, dubbed “Keen Sword,” comes shortly after China conducted large-scale military maneuvers near Taiwan, escalating concerns over potential conflict in the region.
China’s military expansion and increasing defense cooperation between Washington and its allies have intensified fears of a clash over Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as part of its territory. The drills also address other regional territorial disputes.
The “Keen Sword” exercises will engage 45,000 personnel from Japan and the U.S., alongside 40 naval vessels and 370 aircraft. Forces from Australia and Canada will also participate, according to the Japanese Joint Staff. Held every two years, these drills will span across multiple locations in Japan, including key military bases, and will run until November 1.
General Yoshihide Yoshida, the highest-ranking officer in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF), emphasized the significance of the drills at a press briefing on Tuesday, referencing concerns over potential conflicts similar to the ongoing war in Ukraine. “We can’t rule out the possibility of a serious situation unfolding near our borders. We’re fully committed to deterring such threats,” Yoshida stated. He stressed that the U.S.-Japan alliance remains a cornerstone of regional peace.
Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, echoed this sentiment, noting that “Keen Sword” reinforces the military edge needed to uphold the international rule-based order.
For the first time, Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will be deployed to Yonaguni, the Japanese island nearest to Taiwan, as part of an evacuation drill simulating the rescue of residents and tourists in the event of a disaster.
Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has warned of similar risks in East Asia. “Many are concerned that the crisis in Ukraine could be a preview of what might unfold in East Asia,” Ishiba told parliament earlier this month. He advocates for the creation of a regional defense alliance modeled after NATO, though he acknowledged that such an initiative would take time to materialize.
Tensions between Japan and China have been on the rise. In August, a Chinese military aircraft entered Japanese airspace for the first time, while a Japanese warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait weeks later, in a notable shift in military activity.
In the latest development, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported a Chinese aircraft carrier group passing through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, following Beijing’s live-fire exercises near the island. China, which has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over Taiwan, included a blockade of the island in its recent military drills. Both Taipei and its main ally, Washington, condemned these actions.
