Japan-U.S. Joint Drill

Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that destroyers of Maritime Self-defense Force started joint drill with U.S.S. Carl Vinson in western Pacific. U.S.S. Carl Vinson was heading for sea area off the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea was raising the level of intimidation of having nuclear test or missile launch. Before eighty-fifth anniversary of establishment of Korean People’s Army on Tuesday, tension between North Korea and United States is getting high.

The destroyers of MSDF were Aegis-equipped Ashigara and Samidare in Murasame-class, both of them left Port of Sasebo on Friday. They joined the strike group headed by U.S. Navy aircraft career U.S.S. Carl Vinson on its way from Singapore to Japan Sea. They are supposed to have tactical drill of changing formation or exercise of communication.

An MSDF spokesman told Japan Times that the drill was not based on any specific combat scenario. “The MSDF always looks for opportunities to conduct joint drills with the U.S. Navy, and we consider this good timing,” said an official who declined to be named. “We always look forward to operating with our Japanese partners,” said Rear Admiral, Jim Kilby, commander of the strike group. “The relationship between JSMDF and the United States is better than ever and it’s in part thanks to their bilateral exercises.”

It is highly unlikely, however, that the drill has nothing to do with intimidation from the northern part of Korean Peninsula. U.S. President Donald Trump unequivocally said that all the options were on the table and indicated unilateral military option unless positive action of China. While U.S.S. Carl Vinson had been planned to get back to its homeport in U.S., Commander of Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, ordered to change the destination to waters around Korean Peninsula.

The drill is named flexible deterrent options, which is aimed to ease or deter military tension by demonstrating firm connection of Japan and U.S. through joint drill or dispatching companies. The concept was included revised Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation in 2015. However, the drill will apparently raise the tension in Northeast Asia.

There is an idea in Japan that the main purpose of joint drill is to urge China active role in North Korean issue. A leader of Liberal Democratic Party told that Japan needed an approach to comprehensively solve the problem of North Korean unilateral behavior backed by great military capability of U.S. But, China stays looking at what is going on and North Korea keeps on announcing not giving in.