Japan and the US begin major maneuvers in the East China Sea This is how Raquel Welch became an icon of fur bikini overnight

Japan and its protecting power, the United States, have launched large-scale maneuvers in southwestern Japan in response to China’s increasing military activity in the East China Sea.

The month-long exercises, dubbed “Iron Fist,” are designed to demonstrate the bilateral alliance’s responsiveness and include the simulated defense and recapture of Japanese islands, the Kyodo news agency reported Thursday. The annual maneuver involving 1,700 members of Japan’s armed forces and its security partner is taking place outside the US state of California for the first time since early 2006.

To better defend the islands against China, Japan is considering establishing dozens of ammunition and weapons depots on these remote islands, according to a recent media report. According to media reports, the nuclear power USA also wants to install a rapid reaction force in southern Japan.

Meanwhile, Japan’s ruling party on Thursday spoke out in favor of easing restrictions on the use of weapons against the entry of flying objects into Japanese airspace. The reason is concern about spy balloons from China. According to the Defense Ministry, at least three flying objects have been sighted in Japanese airspace in the past three years, which are strongly suspected to be unmanned spy balloons from China.

Japan is currently undergoing a historic shift in its security policy and plans to massively increase its defense spending. For the first time, the country wants to acquire offensive weapons such as cruise missiles that can target potential targets in China. The change of course comes amid a security environment Tokyo describes as the “serious and most complicated” since World War II. China’s military presence in the region represents “the greatest strategic challenge” of all time, according to a new security document. (aeg/sda/dpa)