D. Japan-U.S. "Keen Sword 13" joint actual-troop exercise
Exercise time: November 5 to 16
Participating countries: the U.S. and Japan
Exercise location: Japan's main military bases and Japan's surrounding sea areas and airspace
Exercise contents: land, sea and air operations, military base protection, joint projection and battlefield search and rescue
Concern index: ★★★★
Reason for concern: Japan-U.S. largest-ever joint military exercise Military strength committed: 37,000 servicemen from Japan's Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces, and 10,000 U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan
Expert's comments: the "Keen Sword" exercise dates back to the year 1986, and the "Keen Sword 13" is the 11th one. Although it deliberately kept a low profile on this exercise by cancelling the planned "Island-seizing" exercise on south Japan's Okinawa Island and taking such measures as conducting closed-door exercise, Japan clearly intended to strengthen its military presence in southwestern island chain and boost its morale in regional conflicts. (By Chen Guoye, from a troop unit under the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) of the PLA)
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