Japanese Ground-Self Defense Force Type 90 tanks drive toward a target during the annual drill with live ammunitions exercise at Minami Eniwa Camp Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Eniwa, northern Japan of Hokkaido. Dozens of tanks are rolling over the next two weeks on Hokkaido, a main military stronghold for a country with perhaps the world's most little known yet powerful army.
The drills, which foreign journalists rarely have a chance to witness, will continue for nine days and include about 1,300 Ground Self Defense Force troops. On Monday, as hundreds of soldiers cheered from the sidelines and waved unit flags, lines of tanks shot at targets meant to represent enemy missiles or armored vehicles.
As it is, tens of billions of dollars each year have built an arsenal of nearly 1,000 warplanes and dozens of destroyers and submarines. Japan’s forces rival those of Britain and France, and show no sign of slowing down in a pursuit of the best equipment and weapons money can buy. China and Russia have stepped up military cooperation in recent years in an attempt to counter growing U.S.-led regional partnerships.In October, a fleet of five warships each from China and Russia circled Japan as they traveled through the Pacific to the East China Sea. Last month, their warplanes flew together near Japan’s airspace, causing Japanese fighter jets to scramble.
During archconservative former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s more than eight-year rule, which ended a year ago, Japan significantly expanded its military role and budget. Abe also watered down the war-renouncing Article 9 of the constitution in 2015, allowing Japan to come to the defense of the United States and other partner nations.
One of North Korea’s missiles flew over Hokkaido, landing in the Pacific in 2017. In September, another fell within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone off northwestern Japan. Among Japan’s biggest worries is China’s increased naval activity, including an aircraft carrier that has been repeatedly spotted off Japan’s southern coasts.
God help us all!!
Go go for Japan. Anne Elisabeth.
interesting japan / germany usa / uk bosom buddies
Japan used to be a poor country. Therefore, even during the war with the United States, many soldiers were not given satisfactory weapons, and many soldiers died in vain. How does the Japanese, who insist on reflecting on the past, understand this past?
Because of China is building military power at their maximum money resources.
LOL. Lets hope China and Russia will leave Japan alone. Because if they don’t there isn’t a damn thing Japan can do about it.
Banzaï !
Nice 👍🏻 help is on the way 🇯🇵
Revenge of the Rising Sun
Dozens of tanks and 100s of soldiers doesn't seem to jive with Japan's military being one of the strongest in the world. Seems more like ten minutes of modern warfare.
I would hope so. 67 years of fighting Godzilla with various arsenal of weapons, you would think the armory would be much more advanced by now.
I'm with Japan.
Tamagotchi😂
Asians should stand together against the western countries
Hee Haw!
Every corner of Asia is spicy.
horrible
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