Japan, US to hold joint military exercises

The Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) and the United States Army will hold an Orient Shield exercise with the participation of about 3,000 service members, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said at a press conference on June 22.

According to him, the military exercise will be held from June 24 to July 11 at all bases and landfills in Japan: "This will be the first large-scale training in history. Regional security around Japan is tightening. It is crucial to strengthen cooperation between the JGSDF and the US Armed Forces."

Orient Shield joint training between the two countries has been held since 1985.