Japan, the US, and France to Conduct Military Exercises in May as a Warning to China

Japan, the United States, and France are planning to conduct their first joint land and naval exercises in May next year. This was reported by the Interfax agency, citing the Sankei Shimbun publication.

One of the main objectives of the planned exercises will be to carry out rescue operations at sea and during natural disasters. At the same time, these exercises will be aimed at countering China, the newspaper reports. It is expected that a remote Japanese island will be used for the exercises.

The publication recalls that Japan is particularly concerned about the increase in Chinese military activity around the disputed Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu in China) in the East China Sea. “We want to demonstrate our presence in the region and send a signal of cooperation between Japan and France,” Admiral Pierre Vandier, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, said in an interview with the publication.

“This message is directed at China. It is a message of multilateral partnership and maritime navigation freedom,” the admiral added.