Japan boosts international military drills amid regional tensions

Japan's Self-Defense Forces have significantly heightened their involvement in international military exercises, marking an 18-fold increase since 2006, according to a report by TASS citing the Yomiuri newspaper.

The surge in participation, with Japan engaging in 56 exercises in 2023 compared to just three in 2006, is seen as a response to the perceived rise in China's military activities in the region and the development of North Korea's nuclear missile program.

The intensified cooperation involves bilateral and multilateral exercises, with the United States, South Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Pacific island nations being Japan's primary partners in 2023. Over half of these exercises focus on practicing tactics and combat capabilities, with a notable emphasis on maritime scenarios. Twelve exercises specifically address the detection of submarines belonging to a hypothetical adversary.