Japan joins military exercises with U.S., UK and France off Guam

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Today 06:53 am JST 10 Comments
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Japanese troops on Saturday took part in amphibious military exercises on the U.S. Pacific island of Guam.

The weeklong drills involve U.S., British, French and Japanese troops. They are intended to show support for the free passage of vessels in international waters amid concerns China may restrict access to the South China Sea.

U.S. 3rd Marine Division spokesman 1st Lt Joshua Hays said Japanese soldiers practiced rubber craft raids.

The drills are being held around Guam and Tinian islands, U.S. islands that are about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) south of Tokyo and east of Manila, Philippines.

The exercises feature two French ships currently on a four-month deployment to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Some 50 Japanese soldiers and 160 Japanese sailors are participating, along with UK helicopters and 70 UK troops deployed with one of the French ships.

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