More ships from Japan to 'defend' Diaoyu isles
January 15, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
JAPAN will deploy two more patrol ships to boost its "defense" of islands at the center of a territorial row with China and has conducted its first drill simulating the recapture of an island seized by enemy forces.
The vessels will be stationed at the coast guard headquarters which "cover" the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said yesterday.
The 335-ton "Kurose" and the 3,100-ton "Chikuzen," equipped with a helicopter, will be deployed in August and October respectively, NHK reported.
On Sunday, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force carried out the nation's first military exercise designed to recapture "a remote island invaded by an enemy force," officials said.
Some 300 troops took part in the drill with 20 planes and more than 30 military vehicles at the Narashino Garrison in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo.
Some 80 personnel from the SDF's First Airborne Brigade rappelled from helicopters to demonstrate maneuvers to counter an invasion.
"We will strengthen the deployment of the Self-Defense Force in response to the tougher security environment surrounding our country," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told the military.
Chinese ships and planes have patrolled the waters off the islands numerous times since Japan "purchased" three of them in September.
Tokyo's defense ministry has said that F-15s were sent to head off Chinese planes four times in December. They were also mobilized in January.
Japan plans to spend an extra 180.5 billion yen (US$2.0 billion) on missiles, fighter jets and helicopters, an official said last week, as it tries to strengthen defense capabilities with concerns growing over a rising China.
The vessels will be stationed at the coast guard headquarters which "cover" the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said yesterday.
The 335-ton "Kurose" and the 3,100-ton "Chikuzen," equipped with a helicopter, will be deployed in August and October respectively, NHK reported.
On Sunday, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force carried out the nation's first military exercise designed to recapture "a remote island invaded by an enemy force," officials said.
Some 300 troops took part in the drill with 20 planes and more than 30 military vehicles at the Narashino Garrison in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo.
Some 80 personnel from the SDF's First Airborne Brigade rappelled from helicopters to demonstrate maneuvers to counter an invasion.
"We will strengthen the deployment of the Self-Defense Force in response to the tougher security environment surrounding our country," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told the military.
Chinese ships and planes have patrolled the waters off the islands numerous times since Japan "purchased" three of them in September.
Tokyo's defense ministry has said that F-15s were sent to head off Chinese planes four times in December. They were also mobilized in January.
Japan plans to spend an extra 180.5 billion yen (US$2.0 billion) on missiles, fighter jets and helicopters, an official said last week, as it tries to strengthen defense capabilities with concerns growing over a rising China.
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