A C-130 transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) participates in the Mobility Guardian 23 exercise organized by the US Air Force on July 12.
By Gong Ke and Li Shuo
Japan has recently made frequent moves in military exercises, troop deployment, equipment development and other military activities, progressing aggressively toward a more offensive military strategy. Japan's all-out efforts in military force development and deployment seriously violate the pacifist Constitution and have a profound effect on the security pattern ofthe Asia-Pacific region and even on the world.
The training programs have been continuously expanded. These days, Japan has continued to upgrade military exercises with the US and other countries and expand the exercise and training programs, creating multiple "firsts" in the record. On July 22, the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 made the debut of Type 12 anti-ship missiles in Australia, and first used the US-made ScanEagle 2 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft for overseas intelligence collecting activities. In this exercise, Japan sent a total of about 1,000 troops from the "Izumo" quasi-aircraft carrier and amphibious rapid deployment regiments for multiple joint training with the US, Australia and other countries. From July 26 to 29, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and French Air and Space Force held joint military exercises in Kyushu, Japan and its surrounding airspace. It is learned that this is the first time that the two countries implement joint training involving fighters in Japan.
The frequency of exercises continues to increase. The frequency of military exercises between Japan and other countries has also risen remarkably. From July 1 to 10, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) sent destroyers and submarines to the waters around Guam to carry out Pacific Vanguard 2023 joint military exercise with the maritime military forces of the US, Australia and ROK. From July 5 to 21, Japan participated in the unprecedentedly largest full-spectrum combat readiness exercise organized by the US Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) – Mobility Guardian 23 with countries including Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. From July 16 to 28, JMSDF held a large-scale mine warfare training in Mutsu Bay, Aomori Prefecture of Japan, which involved joint mine clearance training with the navies of the US, India, Italy and other countries.
Wild ambitions lurk behind the troop deployment. Since the beginning of 2023, Japan has accelerated ammunition depot and base construction on the Southwest Islands and continuously strengthened rapid deployment and sustained combat capabilities. Japan's Defense Ministry recently announced that their Air Self-Defense Force will deploy a mobile airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) radar unit on the North Daitō Island, about 360 kilometers away from Okinawa Island, to strengthen control of the air and sea situation east of Okinawa. In addition, it is reported by the Japanese media that Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is validating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAV produced by the GE company of the US, and plans to build a manned and unmanned combined 24-hour marine alert and surveillance system next year.
Equipment development for military purpose is boosted by aid of civilian firms. In order to further engage civilian enterprises in military equipment research and development, Japan’s Defense Ministry will soon negotiate with around 100 high-tech enterprises listed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of the country. Based on these civilian enterprises' introductions on space, cyber, artificial intelligence and other technologies, Japan Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces and Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency will evaluate whether the relevant civilian technologies can be militarized or integrated into mid-and-long term military research and development. In addition, Japan's Defense Ministry has also decided to significantly increase the profits of military enterprises, in order to drive civilian enterprises to boost the military industry development.
