By Liu Cheng
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) warships undertake tasks during the ANNUAL Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2025.
According to Japanese media reports, the Japan Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces conducted the Self-Defense Force (SDF) Joint Exercise 2025 (FTX) (hereinafter referred to as the "07JX") throughout Japan and in the surrounding sea area and airspace from October 20 to 31. The Ministry of Defense of Japan stated that the 07JX involved 52,000 troops, as well as 4,180 vehicles, 60 vessels and 310 aircraft. The 07JX features the largest scale of the series since its inception. The US and Australia also sent troops for some exercise subjects, with all parties carrying out coordinated training aiming to enhance their joint operational capabilities. Some analysts pointed out that with the launch of intensive exercises in recent days, Japan's move to violate the exclusively defense-oriented policy has induced widespread concerns and vigilance.
The 07JX focused on field drills, with main subjects including ground, naval, air and amphibious operations. Importantly, the 07JX represents the first-ever exercise primarily commanded by the new JSDF Joint Operations Command (JJOC) established this March, which marks the transformation and adjustment of JSDF's operational command structure. According to the Ministry of Defense of Japan, the JJOC is capable of unifying various forces in land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, and other domains, as well as undertaking contact and coordination with the US Indo-Pacific Command.
At the same time as the 07JX, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) launched the ANNUAL Exercise (ANNUALEX) 2025 jointly with the US Navy, with troops from Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand incorporated. More than one month ago, Japan had concluded several joint exercises with the US, the ROK, the UK, France, Australia, and other countries with codenames such as Multi-Large Deck Event, Freedom Edge, Bushido Guardian, and Resolute Dragon. Among them, the Bushido Guardian joint exercise served as the first specified collective training of the F-35A fighter jets of Japan, the US, and Australia. The US deployed Typhon mobile missile systems to Japan for the first time during the Resolute Dragon joint exercise. Some foreign media concluded that Japan intends to enhance the coordinated operational capabilities through intensive exercises that refine the command structure and division of tasks of the allies.
The 07JX aroused opposition in Japan from the beginning. Japanese people continued to gather in front of the Ministry of Defense to oppose the government's militaristic tendencies. The employment of Osprey transport aircraft that had been involved in frequent accidents and the activation of civilian facilities without disclosing relevant safety standards have incurred widespread doubts among the Japanese public about the security capabilities of the JSDF. Furthermore, according to some Japanese scholars, the JJOC is inherently a standing war command body running during peacetime, which deviates from its pacifist Constitution and thereby is nothing short of an "unconstitutional organization". Some foreign military experts noted that the coincident timing of the exercise with the formation of the right-wing cabinet will further aggravate public anxiety.
In the long run, Japan's acts of exploiting the mechanisms such as Five Eyes and AUKUS alliances to violate the exclusively defense-oriented policy and insisting on developing long-range strike capabilities have aroused widespread concerns and vigilance. Meanwhile, the ecological damage caused by the long-time station of external military forces has become the focal point of protests by local governments and public, imposing more pressure on the Japanese government.
The 07JX, combined with the series of military operations by the JSDF, not only highlights the shift in Japan's military strategy, but also serves as a critical step for it to get rid of the post-war international order. The practical attempts of military expansion in the name of "collective security" will exacerbate the regional security predicament, and thus their subsequent developments warrant close attention.