February 28, 2021
Japanese Air Self-Defense Force personnel, during Japan-U.S.-Australia joint military exercises carried out in Guam until February 19, took part in on-the-ground practice of refueling U.S. fighter jets directly from U.S. transport aircraft. Japan is increasingly involved in Japan-U.S. integrated preparedness for wars based on national security-related legislation dubbed the "war laws".
The trilateral joint training exercises called Corp North 21 took place at the northwest air field base in Guam, participated in by F-35A fighter jets from Alaska and F-16s from the U.S. Misawa air base in Aomori Prefecture. Japan's ASDF personnel, as part of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training, refueled F-16s with their engines on from U.S. C-130J arriving from U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo.
At the Yokota AB, a facility to support agile combat is jointly operated by Japan's ASDF and the U.S. Air Force. The fuel-unloading facility and more tanks are planned to be renovated and built. The fuel pier at the Fuel Terminal Tsurumi in Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture is also to be renovated. Japan would likely be used as a support hub for U.S. wars abroad.
Okutomi Kiichi of the local Peace Committee in Tokyo's Fussa City, where the U.S. Yokota Air Force base is located, said, "The Yokota AB is rapidly becoming a joint operation base, endangering national peace. I feel a sense of crisis."
According to Okutomi, the number of helicopter take-offs and landings has reached a peak after CV-22 Osprey aircraft were deployed at the base, and the number of late-night flight exercises has increased. He said, "I will let people know about this reality and will hopefully help to increase the movement in Japan opposing the increase in operational functions at Yokota."
The trilateral joint training exercises called Corp North 21 took place at the northwest air field base in Guam, participated in by F-35A fighter jets from Alaska and F-16s from the U.S. Misawa air base in Aomori Prefecture. Japan's ASDF personnel, as part of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training, refueled F-16s with their engines on from U.S. C-130J arriving from U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo.
At the Yokota AB, a facility to support agile combat is jointly operated by Japan's ASDF and the U.S. Air Force. The fuel-unloading facility and more tanks are planned to be renovated and built. The fuel pier at the Fuel Terminal Tsurumi in Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture is also to be renovated. Japan would likely be used as a support hub for U.S. wars abroad.
Okutomi Kiichi of the local Peace Committee in Tokyo's Fussa City, where the U.S. Yokota Air Force base is located, said, "The Yokota AB is rapidly becoming a joint operation base, endangering national peace. I feel a sense of crisis."
According to Okutomi, the number of helicopter take-offs and landings has reached a peak after CV-22 Osprey aircraft were deployed at the base, and the number of late-night flight exercises has increased. He said, "I will let people know about this reality and will hopefully help to increase the movement in Japan opposing the increase in operational functions at Yokota."
