US-Japan military drills go on despite virus, with eye on China

Allies also seek to conduct international RIMPAC exercise in August

20200531N US military drill Japan

U.S. soldiers wearing protective face masks are seen during a military drill at Yokota U.S. Air Force Base in Fussa, Japan. © Reuters

DAISHI ABE, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The coronavirus has not stopped the U.S. and Japan from holding joint military exercises, as the allies keep watch on China's increasingly assertive maritime maneuvers in the East and South China seas amid the pandemic.

Two U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers and 16 F-15 and F-2 fighters from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force held joint drills over the Sea of Japan and around Okinawa on Wednesday.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.