00:00These U.S. and Japanese Marines are practicing how to call out targets.
00:13For almost three weeks, islands in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture have turned into mini-battlefields,
00:19with dozens of military aircraft buzzing around the strategic area.
00:24Officials here say it's a reflection of tensions in the region.
00:47These annual exercises are called Iron Fist, and they focus on how to strike targets and
00:52coordinate attacks on various islands in the Indo-Pacific.
00:56The drills here are also some of the closest to neighboring Taiwan.
00:59Just 600 kilometers away sits Kadena Air Base, the closest U.S. military base to Taiwan,
01:06and it's a vital hub for U.S. operations in Asia.
01:10If a crisis were to erupt in the Taiwan Strait, it would take fighter jets from there around
01:14three hours to move in.
01:20The exercises here are just one part of a renewed effort by Japan to boost its defense,
01:25with a potential conflict over Taiwan a big motivator.
01:28Japan has committed to acquiring counter-strike capabilities, including Tomahawk missiles,
01:34and expanding its defense budget to 2 percent of GDP, aimed at strengthening deterrence
01:40against a Taiwan contingency.
01:45But a war around Taiwan isn't the only thing on Japan's mind.
01:49Japan is increasingly aggressive moves in Asia, and an unpredictable foreign policy
01:53from U.S. President Donald Trump is increasing anxiety over Japan's security.
01:59Japan's perennially been worried about two things with regard to the U.S.
02:03One is abandonment, so the U.S. loses strategic interest in Asia, and the other one is entrapment,
02:10so Japan gets trapped in a U.S. conflict in the region, particularly obviously with the
02:16second Trump administration, that worry has been intensified.
02:20The U.S. and Japan do have a mutual defense treaty, but there's growing concern about
02:25how active the U.S. will be in Asia's security.
02:28That's why these exercises are a chance for Japan to practice taking matters into its
02:32own hands.
02:37But while China causes a stir in the region, new partnerships between North Korea and Russia
02:41are also pushing Japan to stay alert.
02:44At a really high level, they are concerned about current Russia-North Korean cooperation
02:51of the nuclear development.
02:54So I think I or East Asia country policy makers should pay attention to the more multilateral
03:04discussion about arms control in the region.
03:11More joint drills are scheduled for later this month, as Japan looks to take ownership
03:15not just of its own defense, but in its role in helping prevent a regional conflict.
03:21Fu Hua Hong and Jaime Okon in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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