ASSESSMENTS

Japan's Latest Military Exercise Sends a Message to China

Oct 25, 2013 | 15:46 GMT

Japan's Latest Military Exercise Sends a Message to China
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile patrol boat Shiritaka (front) and destroyer Shirane during fleet reviews in October 2012.

(KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

At a time when the Chinese are greatly accelerating the pace of their training exercises in the Pacific, the Japanese are also strengthening their defensive capabilities in remote islands to the southwest to counter the Chinese moves. On Oct. 24, the Japanese government announced a major exercise intended to increase its ability to protect its remote southwestern islands. The exercises on both sides are a reminder that, besides historical grievances, the countries are engaged in a geopolitical competition in the Western Pacific region.

Geographically, the Japanese are poised to contain the Chinese in their attempts to break out into the wider Pacific region....

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