Japan's Latest Military Exercise Sends a Message to China

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.