October 5, 2023

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken and JCP municipal assemblypersons in Okinawa on October 4 made representations to the Defense Ministry’s local defense bureau, demanding the cancellation of large-scale joint military exercises involving Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps.

The joint drills called “Resolute Dragon 23” are slated to be held between October 14 and October 31 at U.S. military and SDF facilities in Japan, including SDF base camps on Okinawa’s remote islands. As part of the drills, bombing exercises involving USMC F-35B fighter aircraft will be held at the U.S. Idesunajima firing range in Okinawa’s Tonaki Village. A GSDF V22 Osprey is going to arrive at the civil airport on Ishigaki Isaland to participate in the joint exercises.

JCP Okinawa City assemblyperson Maemiya Mitsuko submitted to the bureau head, Ito Shin’nya, a written request calling for the cancellation of the joint drills and the disclosure of detailed information regarding the drills.

Akamine noted that the planned drills, which will be the largest ever bilateral exercises, are designed to demonstrate the joint response capabilities of the SDF and the U.S. military in a contingency situation. He pointed out that the drills assume a scenario in which Okinawa’s remote islands will become a battleground, and said that such drills cannot be tolerated.

The defense bureau head refused to accept the JCP demand.