Japan and India began their first joint fighter exercise near Tokyo on the 16th. During the 11-day exercise, the two sides will carry out training in various subjects. Some media pointed out that both countries actually have their own plans, whether in military equipment or strategy.
The Japanese Defense Ministry informed that Japan and India started their first ever joint fighter exercise near Tokyo on January 16th. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force sent four F-2 fighters to participate, and the Indian Air Force sent four Su -30MKI fighters, two C-17 transport planes and an Il -78 aerial tanker. The exercise lasted for 11 days and ended on the 26th.
Japanese media: provide a "precious opportunity" to understand the operation of Russian-made fighters
The Indian Air Force imports weapons or turns to American-made weapons.
"Nikkei News" is even more blunt, and this joint exercise will provide the Japan Air Self-Defense Force with a "valuable opportunity" to understand the operation of Russian-made fighters.
Japanese pilots can use this to collect "intelligence" about the performance of the Su -30, such as maneuverability, cruising range, fuel consumption and maintenance. In particular, Japan believes that the Soviet-made weapons assembled in large quantities by the Indian army have something in common with the active equipment of China and Russia, and this understanding becomes "more important."
For the Indian Air Force, this military exchange may open up some situations for arms import. Since the first Russian-made Su -30MKI fighter plane was delivered to the Indian Air Force in 2002 and the Su -30MKI self-assembled by India was put into service in 2004, Su -30MKI accidents have continued. To this end, India has been promoting the diversification of arms imports, including Japan.
After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict, Russian military exports were sanctioned, which also stimulated India to find new sources of imports. At the second "2+2" Foreign Ministers’ Defense Ministers’ Meeting between India and Japan in September, 2022, Indian Defense Minister Manmohan Singh invited Japanese companies to invest in India’s "defense corridor", while Japan offered to support the diversification of Indian arms imports and sell communication equipment used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to India. Judging from this information, the joint exercise between Japan and India is also a comparison between the two countries on the main fighters that can be independently researched and assembled by both sides. This may also be the beginning of the Indian Air Force’s weapons import from Russia to the United States.
Japan tried its best to win over India for the United States and create a "small circle."
India and Japan have different strategic priorities and it is difficult to always be consistent.
Strategically, in order to create an atmosphere, Japanese media also mentioned that Japan and India belong to the "quadrilateral mechanism" of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. This joint exercise was recognized as "the latest military exercise of members of the Quartet". This means that a series of joint military exercises between the United States, Japan and Australia have been "non-stop" in recent days, and now India has also participated. It is no secret that Japan and the United States, the leader of the "quadrilateral mechanism", are trying to win over India.
On the afternoon of 13th local time, Japanese Prime Minister kishida fumio, who was visiting the United States, gave a speech praising India, saying that New Delhi is a partner sharing common values and strategic interests with Japan, and Japan will further consolidate Japan-India cooperation within the framework of bilateral and "quadrilateral mechanism".
But at the same time, Indian public opinion has begun to worry that India will be tied to the chariot of the United States. In fact, India has also actively participated in the SCO and BRICS mechanisms. The Indian media pointed out that India’s strategic focus is not the same as Japan’s, which also determines that it is difficult for the two countries to keep pace all the time.
The Chinese side stated that relevant parties should do more to promote regional national security and mutual trust and help maintain regional peace and stability.
On January 17, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin held a regular press conference. A reporter asked that Japan and India held their first joint air exercise near Tokyo. What is China’s comment on this?
Wang Wenbin said that we have noticed relevant reports, and relevant parties should do more to promote regional national security and mutual trust, which is conducive to maintaining regional peace and stability.
Extended reading
Be alert! The United States and Japan "hide the army in the people"
Japan and the United States have cooperated with each other to adjust the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces and the US military, constantly creating unstable factors in the Asia-Pacific region. What is even more alarming is that the actions of the two countries to expand their military deployment are becoming more and more concealed, and even go deep into civilian facilities.
In Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, the originally quiet fields echoed with the sound of construction machinery. The ground self-defense force base is being built on the island and is expected to be completed in March this year. According to the plan, in the future, the Ishigaki Island base will deploy missile units that can carry out long-range precision strikes.
Japanese government considers
Take over the lower island civil airport.
When the base on Ishigaki Island is completed, it will form Japan’s "base chain" in the direction of southwest islands together with Amami Island, Miyako Island and several bases that have been put into use on Nagano Island.
According to the Okinawa Times reported on the 16th, as the deployment focus of the Self-Defense Forces continues to shift to the southwest, Japan has not only built a number of new bases, but also paid more and more attention to the utilization of existing facilities such as civil airports and ports. Recently, there have been voices within the Kishida government and the Liberal Democratic Party to transfer the management right of Shimonoseki Airport from the Okinawa prefectural government to the Japanese central government.
Shimonoseki Island belongs to Miyako Islands among the islands in the southwest of Japan, and it is administratively under the jurisdiction of Miyako Island City in Okinawa Prefecture. There is an airport covering an area of 360 hectares on the island, equipped with a runway 3000 meters long, which is the only airport in Japan for training civil aviation pilots.
At present, Naha Airport is the only one that normally deploys Self-Defense Forces fighters in Okinawa Prefecture. The Sankei Shimbun also pointed out that if the Self-Defense Forces can use the Xiadao Airport, it will not only reduce the risk, but also shorten the distance to Diaoyu Island in China by half compared with taking off from Naha.
Fukuoka civil airport
"Hiding" the US military base
At present, there are airports all over Japan, which are completely civilian, shared with the Self-Defense Forces, and airports for US military aircraft to take off and land. According to Japanese media reports, a US military base is "hidden" in Fukuoka Airport in the north of Kyushu Island.
Fukuoka Airport was put into use in 1945, only 5 kilometers away from downtown Fukuoka. The word "AMC" at the entrance of the base refers to the US Air Force Mobile Logistics Command, which is responsible for commanding transport aircraft and aerial tankers. According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Fukuoka Airport is the civil airport with the highest landing frequency of US military aircraft in 2021, reaching "once every five days".
Us military plan
Deploy landing craft troops in Yokohama
At a series of high-level meetings held recently, the United States and Japan agreed to "flexibly use civil airports and ports" and further promote the sharing of facilities between the Self-Defense Forces and the US military.
Yokohama is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo Bay, between Tokyo, the Japanese capital, and Yokosuga, the headquarters of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet. According to Japanese media reports, the US has informed the Japanese side that it plans to deploy a landing craft unit at Yokohama North Terminal from this spring. The force consists of 13 landing craft and about 280 American officers and men. "Asahi Shimbun" pointed out that these landing craft can dock at islands and reefs without large ports, so they will be used to transport materials and personnel to the southwestern islands of Japan quickly and in large quantities.
However, around the location where the US military plans to deploy landing craft, it is the local downtown area, even including crowded places such as stations and parks, which has caused public anxiety.
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