October 29, 2026

Japan's expanding military deployments and efforts to strengthen military cooperation with other countries show that it is accelerating its remilitarization, posing a threat to regional security, a Chinese defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to reports that the United States and Japan had conducted their largest-ever "Keen Sword 27" joint exercise from Oct 19 to Thursday.

The exercise focused on island-seizure operations, according to reports. Japan's Self-Defense Forces deployed the long-range Type-25 surface-to-ship missile during the exercise, while the US Marine Corps deployed its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System for the first time on Yonaguni Island, which is geographically close to Taiwan.

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https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202610/30/WS6ae3eb75e4b06d4aa0565f9c.html