US, French and Australian forces conduct joint exercise with Japan to counter China

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<strong>In order to counter China's growing dominance in the region and in defence of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Western Army Aviation Group are conducting 'ARC21', a multilateral exercise with French Army and United States Marine Corps in Camp Ainoura, Kirishima Maneuver Area and airspace of Kyushu, the southwesternmost of Japan’s main island.</strong></p>
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The exercise, which began on May 11 and continues till May 17, serves as an opportunity to improve the strength of bonds between Australia, France, Japan, and the United States, said the Japanese defence ministry today.</p>
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In this exercise, JGSDF and French Army are simulating procedures which includes the deployment of the army troops from the military ships to the Maneuver Area by helicopter and military operations in urban terrain, enhancing the tactical skills for remote islands defence.</p>
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ARC21 is the first exercise JGSDF has conducted in Japan with the French Army. Tokyo insists that as mutual defence cooperation between Japan and France progresses, this exercise shows enhanced defence cooperation with French Forces while the Japan-U.S. Alliance being the cornerstone.</p>
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<img alt="Japan US Military Exercise" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Japan_US_Military_China_1.jpg" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" /></p>
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The United States has sent its San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) for the exercise which brings together service members from each nation’s military in a combined effort to "enhance interoperability" in pursuit of common regional security goals.</p>
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The field training portion of the exercise is being held at Kirishima maneuver area with a combat engineer subject matter expertise exchange, casualty evacuation and combat service support training, and simulated fire support coordination training between Japan Air Self Defense Forces and U.S. military personnel.</p>
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"This exercise, by bringing together our air, land, and maritime forces to increase our ability to jointly respond to crises across the range of military operations, is yet another demonstration of our rapidly growing constellation of partners, all united by the common goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Lt Col Jeremy Nelson of the US 3D Marine Logistics Group.</p>
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"It is commonly said that we train alongside our partners and allies in peace to be ready to fight alongside them in war, and exercises like ARC-21 are the best example of this," Nelson was quoted as saying by the US Pacific Command.</p>
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The culminating events are scheduled to include surveillance and insertion of forces via JSDF CH-47 Chinook helicopters from French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Tonnerre (L9014), followed by a helicopter-borne assault via U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys from USS New Orleans. Once all forces are together on the ground they will begin an assault on a shared objective.</p>