The US-Japan Keen Sword 27 exercise opens Monday, with about 45,000 Japanese and 12,000 US personnel, according to The Japan Times. Japan will deploy its longer-range Type 25 anti-ship missiles away from their Kumamoto base for the first time, and the US plans to send an advanced anti-ship missile system to Yonaguni, 110 kilometres from Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency, citing Hong Kong media, reported that Chinese maritime authorities issued live-fire notices across the Bohai, Yellow, East China and South China seas, including a 47-day window in the southern Yellow Sea from October 15 to November 30. CNA also reported that Chinese navy video showed four Type 071 landing ships firing live rounds together.
Beijing’s Global Times, quoting a Chinese academic, called the drills a provocation. It also reported protests in several Japanese communities.
No direct Chinese response to the exercise itself had been reported by early Monday.