Japanese and US military forces are taking part in joint live-fire drills on Japan’s Hokkaido Island in the largest exercises ever held between the two allies.
Service members from Japan’s Self Defense Forces (JSDF) and US Marines Third Division began the drills, dubbed Northern Viper 17 (NV-17), in the Japanese city of Eniwa on Wednesday.
Some 3,500 troops are taking part in the 18-day war games, which will include rocket artillery exercises and other live-fire operations.
A member of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force stands on a type 90 tank during a joint exercise with US Marine Corps, on August 16, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)
The war games come at a time of tensions between North Korea and China on the one side and the US, Japan, and South Korea on the other. The US has permanent military presence in the region and routinely engages in joint drills with Pyongyang’s regional adversaries.
“This exercise is extremely important because we have very limited opportunities to come together with our Japanese counterparts in a large scale to conduct this type of training,” said US Marine Corps. Commanding Officer Colonel James Harp.
“We need to continue training like this to better protect the region from its adversaries,” he added.