With China in mind, Japan eyes more realistic joint military exercises

What happened: Japan and the United States committed to more advanced joint military training, including additional live-fire exercises, at a bilateral meeting between Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Why it matters: The focus on live-fire drills could point to use of advanced weaponry previously seen as off-limits over concerns about angering locals near training sites and prompting political backlash from Beijing.

Japan and the United States committed to more advanced joint military training, including additional live-fire exercises, at a bilateral meeting between Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The focus on live-fire drills could point to use of advanced weaponry previously seen as off-limits over concerns about angering locals near training sites and prompting political backlash from Beijing.