Japan-US military drills near Taiwan to complicate PLA planning

Key facts

• Japan and the US will conduct expanded military exercises from October 19 to 29.
• Keen Sword 27 will involve about 45,000 Japanese personnel and 12,000 US personnel.
• The drills will rehearse moving anti-ship missiles, air defenses, and communications networks onto islands near Taiwan.
• Analysts believe the exercises could complicate Beijing's planning for a Taiwan or East China Sea conflict.

Japan and the United States are set to conduct an expanded military exercise, Keen Sword 27, from October 19 to 29. The drills will involve approximately 45,000 Japanese personnel and 12,000 US personnel, a significant increase from previous iterations. The exercises are designed to rehearse the movement of critical military assets, including anti-ship missiles, air defense systems, and communications networks, to islands situated near Taiwan. Analysts suggest that these maneuvers could complicate China's strategic planning for potential conflicts in the Taiwan Strait or the East China Sea.