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Ships and helicopters from the Japan Coast Guard on Saturday took part in a review of their fleet and drills. It was the first time in five years the drills had been conducted.
Guests from the public were invited to watch the drills in Toko Bay from the patrol vessel PLH22 Yashima.
In one drill, a Coast Guard ship chased a mock suspicious boat and armed personnel boarded it. In another exercise, Coast Guard members demonstrated a sea rescue from a helicopter.
Recently, the Japan Coast Guard has been conducting drills with U.S. and Philippines forces as a counter to China’s increased marine presence.
On Thursday, the Japan Coast Guard trailed four Chinese Coast Guard vessels that entered Japanese waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The Coast Guard ordered the Chinese vessels to leave the waters and they did so nearly two hours later.
8 Comments
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jcapan
Security theatre
JeffLee
Are these drills really newsworthy? The Japanese TV newscasts routinely play video of these fake scenes of the police or whatever, as their practices are a major news story. I mean, gimme us a break.
Kasper123
Starting to look like Japan is further escalating tension by flexing military muscles!:( It`s not like Japan is a facist or a communist country, but this is starting to defer from what we could call a pacifist country!?
Just a user
Don't blame Japan for protecting itself against an increasingly aggressive and warmongering China. Even pacifists need to protect against bullies who given the chance would take whatever they want. China is the problem not Japan.
Ron Barnes
No matter which side is at fault it always pays to be prepared as other uses can be rescue stopping smuggling goods such as drugs people smugglers etc. Then piracy at sea that is now happening in this region again . I makes people feel safe that their government is protecting them.
Goodlucktoyou
Not communist...but State Security Bill, State Secrets Bill, PM involved in nationalistic school, textbooks edited, Conspiracy Bill, bans on journalists investigating wars...sounds pretty fascist to me.
tiger_tanaka
As a Japanese I am very proud of our Japan Coast Guard. We need to ensure the safety of our country.
Anil Kumar
I am very sorry to say that I am not impressed with these so called drills. May be some other time.