Japan Press Weekly

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2013 November 13 - 19 [OKINAWA]

JCP Okinawa demands halt to large-scale SDF drill involving 34,000 personnel

The Okinawa Prefectural Committee of the Japanese Communist Party on November 12 made representations to the Okinawa Defense Bureau, demanding an immediate halt to the large-scale integrated training exercises of the Self-Defense Forces (Nov.1-18) around islands in southwestern Japan.

About 34,000 Ground, Maritime, and Air SDF personnel are participating in the exercises which are the largest ever in Japan, focusing on defense of remote islands. The MSDF is carrying out a war-game operation entailing naval bombardment to recapture an occupied island. The GSDF is mobilizing a land-to-sea missile unit.

JCP member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Toguchi Osamu stated that the exercises are obviously taking place with China in mind. He criticized the massive military drill on the sea about 150km from the controversial island of Senkaku as highly provocative which will only lead to increasing military tensions in the region.

Maesato Tamotsu of the JCP Okinawa Committee said that such exercises are no longer strictly for defense and should immediately be stopped.

A defense officer said that the exercises are not simulating a clash with any specific country but assuming various attack scenarios on the southwestern islands.