The exercise, which will run from May 11 to 17, will be held in the southeastern part of the island country, with the participation of the United States Marine Corps, the French Army and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Enhancing defense cooperation with allies other than the United States, countries amid Beijing’s increasingly intrusive behavior in the South and East China Seas. .
Speaking at a press conference, Casey Nobu said France shares Japan’s views on a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Working with Japan, the United States and France, they want to further improve the Japanese Self-Defense Forces’ ability to defend remote islands.
Tokyo is particularly concerned about Chinese activity around the uninhabited Senkaku Islands (Tiyogo in Chinese), which China regards as its own but under Japanese rule. Paris also has strategic interests and territories in the region, such as Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean or French Polynesia in the South Pacific, which is made up of five archipelagos.
The joint exercises will be held at the Kirissima training ground and Ainura base on the southern island of Kyushu, and will be used for combat operations and landing maneuvers in a residential environment.
Cover image source: Smith Collection / Gado
