Great Satan US training Japanese to ‘invade island’

In an indirect forewarning to China, the United States is training Japanese troops during an annual training exercise to “invade and retake an island captured by hostile forces.”

The US Marines and Japan’s Western Army Infantry Regiment are currently involved in the month-long exercise, called Iron Fist, at Camp Pendleton in California, The New York Times reported.
Tension between Washington and Beijing escalated after China established an air defense zone over the East China Sea in November, urging all military and commercial aircraft to inform the Chinese government before entering the region.
However, the United States and Japan violated the air zone several times. Two American B-52 bombers defied the zone just three days after the declaration.
The tiny islands, called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, have been a source of tension between Beijing and Tokyo for decades.
Last September, Japan claimed to nationalize a part of the island chain by buying them back from private ownership.
According to the New York Times report, the Japanese forces are stronger in this year’s drill as they brought along their Humvees, gear and paraphernalia for retaking islands — or, in Marine parlance, “amphibious assault with the intent to seize objectives inland.”
Lt. Col. John O’Neal, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said that the Japanese team came with “a new sense of purpose” this year.
“There are certainly current events that have added emphasis to this exercise,” he said. “Is there a heightened awareness? Yes.”
Meanwhile, Capt. James Fanell, director of intelligence and information operations with the US Pacific Fleet, recently said in San Diego that China was training its forces to be capable of carrying out a “short, sharp” war with Japan in the East China Sea.
US Army chief of staff Gen. Ray Odierno was trying to improve the limited relationship between the American and Chinese militaries during his visit to China over the weekend.
When asked about Fanell’s assessment, Odierno responded, “I’ve seen no indications of that at all.”