Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Reuters: The Rapid Support Forces announced that they have taken over the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces in al-Fasher.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
Statement of the factions: Emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independent national decision.
Statement: Approval to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

US, Japan engage in army drills using China as hypothetical enemy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Feb 2024 20:57
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The head of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff told reporters a week ago that Exercise Keen Edge is not intended to target any specific country or region.

  • x
  • In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (AP)
    In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Sunday, April 16, 2023 (AP)

A Sunday report from the Japanese news agency Kyodo revealed that the US and Japan are conducting joint military drills in which China is designated as their hypothetical adversary. 

Government sources told the news agency that this year's iteration of the bilateral command-post "Exercise Keen Edge" deviates from conventional methods by employing unaltered maps of China. In the past, the allies had utilized maps with modified topography to prevent potential backlash in case the plans were inadvertently disclosed.

Scheduled from February 1 to 8, the ongoing exercise will be succeeded by the live-action Exercise Keen Sword around 2025. Reportedly, this subsequent activity will take into account the outcomes of the computer-simulated command-post drills to validate their effectiveness.

Last week, the head of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Yoshihide Yoshida told reporters that Exercise Keen Edge is not intended to target any specific country or region.

The drills are taking place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between China and the US concerning Taiwan.

Related News

Japan's new PM vows to deepen US alliance, accelerate defense spending

Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female prime minister

In 2023, CIA director Bill Burns asserted that Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly ordered the Chinese military to make preparations for a potential "invasion" of the island by 2027.

Read more: Taiwan reunification is inevitable: China's Xi

During last year's largest-ever joint military exercises with Australia, the US reportedly utilized the opportunity to establish new reserves of equipment in the country in anticipation of a possible conflict with China over Taiwan, a report from Reuters asserted. 
 
US officials, as per Reuters, disclosed that the war equipment was stored during the Talisman Sabre exercises conducted in July and August last year. These drills, encompassing more than 34,000 troops from 13 nations in and around Australia, were aimed at enhancing combat readiness and logistical capabilities.

The equipment utilized in the exercises comprised 330 vehicles and trailers, along with 130 containers stored in the southeastern region of Australia, as per Reuters.

In case of a conflict, this stockpile would be adequate to support approximately three logistics companies, totaling 500 or more soldiers. Alternatively, the equipment could be utilized in future drills or to respond to potential natural disasters.

Several officials interviewed by the news agency highlighted logistics as a vulnerability in the US military that China might exploit in a conflict.

They cautioned that tactics such as bombing refueling ships and jet fuel depots could enable Beijing to incapacitate Washington without directly confronting the majority of US forces.

  • Japan
  • Taiwan
  • China-Taiwan
  • US
  • China
  • US Forces Japan
  • One China Principle

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Undated photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Goeje Shipyard in South Korea (Hanwha Ocean)
Politics

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

Catherine Connolly speaks after being after being elected as the new President of Ireland at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Connolly wins Irish presidency in blow to political establishment

Buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen in the Al-Shati camp, in Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel's' post-ceasefire demolitions in Gaza violate agreement: Hamas

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: Our nuclear bomb is resilience, not weapons

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS