Amphibious vehicles line up on Tokunoshima beach Demonstration marches against the exercise in town Japan-U.S. joint exercise Keen Sword Kagoshima[11/17 19:35]
On the coast of Tokunoshima on the 17th, as part of the Japan-US joint joint exercise = Keen Sword, a training assuming the defense of a remote island was held. On the other hand, civic groups and others in the city appealed against the exercise.
(Reporter) “It’s 8:00 am. An amphibious vehicle is landing on the coast of Tokunoshima with a smoke screen.”
Keen Sword has been carried out in Japan and its surroundings since the 10th of this month with concerns about China’s maritime advances and Taiwan emergencies. Marines are involved.
On the 17th, an American military landing ship and a Self-Defense Forces transport ship were deployed off the Hanatoku Coast in Tokunoshima Town. A total of more than 200 personnel aboard 14 Ground Self-Defense Force amphibious vehicles “AAV7” and rubber boats for reconnaissance from the two ships landed on the beach while watching the surroundings assuming an enemy.
(Tokunoshima townspeople) “I wonder if they will actually protect me if something happens, but I have mixed feelings.”
On the other hand, in the town of Tokunoshima, about 20 citizens and residents recently marched against the Japan-US exercises.
(Mr. Masayuki Seki, Vice Chairman of the County Citizens Conference to Protect the Nature and Peace of Amami) “We believe that peace cannot be created by force. I want to ask
Japan-U.S. Joint Joint Exercise = Keen Sword will continue until the 19th, and training for amphibious vehicles and Ospreys on Tokunoshima will continue until the 18th.