{
  "id": 15638700,
  "title": "Japan and U.S. kick off one of their largest joint military drills defending Japan’s southwestern islands as tensions with China rise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/japan-and-u-s-kick-off-one-of-their-largest-joint-military-drills",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-19T17:13:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/19/japan-china-us-military-drills-regional-tensions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japanese and U.S. troops began one of the largest joint military drills on Monday, focusing on the defense of Japan's southwestern islands and showcasing advanced weapons systems amid rising tensions in the region. Approximately 45,000 Japanese soldiers and 12,000 American service members are involved in the biennial Keen Sword 27, with seven other nations, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Philippines, participating for the first time. The drills, scheduled to run through October 29, emphasize defending Japan's southwestern islands and waters around its northern coasts as China, North Korea, and Russia increasingly assert their military presence. Japan perceives China's growing military activities in and around Japan, particularly in the Pacific Ocean, as a threat and has recently fortified its southwestern region with advanced missiles and interceptors. The exercises will involve amphibious landings, air and missile defense, mine sweeping, intelligence gathering, logistics, resupply, and casualty evacuation on several remote islands, including Tanegashima and Yonaguni. Yonaguni, Japan's westernmost island, is located just 68 miles east of Taiwan, a territory China claims. For the first time, the U.S. has deployed its NMESIS ground-based offensive anti-ship missile system, MADIS short-range surface-to-air system, and HIMARS mobile rocket launching system to Yonaguni. Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, chief of Japan's Joint Staff, stated that the exercises are not targeting any specific country and aim to defend not only territorial integrity but also the peaceful lives of the people. Japan's ties with China were strained following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remark a year ago that Chinese military action on Taiwan might justify Japanese involvement, angering Beijing and leading to economic tensions. This year's exercises come amid heightened tension, following the arrest of a U.S. Marine in connection with the murder and robbery of a Japanese woman on Okinawa, reigniting anti-U.S. base sentiment on the island. The majority of about 50,000 American troops in Japan are stationed on the strategic southern island.",
  "summary": "This year's exercises come just weeks after the arrest of a U.S. Marine in connection with the murder of a Japanese woman on Okinawa",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}