US, Japan consider China as hypothetical opponent in military exercise?

The computer-simulated joint US-Japan exercise, which began on February 1 and is expected to last until February 8, envisions a state of emergency in Taiwan. Previously, a temporary name was used when referring to the opponent.

Japan’s Defense Ministry is said to have classified the drill scenario as a special secret under Japan’s secrecy law. The move reflects a heightened sense of urgency amid growing concerns that China could take action against Taiwan in the coming years amid escalating geopolitical tensions, according to Kyodo News.

Japanese soldiers in a joint exercise with the US

Kyodo News Screenshot

About a year ago, CIA Director William Burns said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered his country's military to be ready to attack Taiwan by 2027, according to Kyodo News.

The US and Japan have several joint operational plans for emergencies, with a draft regarding Taiwan finalized late last year.

The results of this exercise will be reflected in the final plans which will be drafted later this year.

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The US and Japan began conducting joint exercises in 1986. At a press conference on January 25, Japan's Self-Defense Forces Chief of Staff, General Yoshihide Yoshida, affirmed that the current exercises "are not aimed at any specific country or region."

There is currently no information about China's reaction to the above information.

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