Japanese Self-Defense Forces, Japan's unified military command, activated its first marine component since World War II and conducted a training exercise on Friday.
Dubbed the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, or ARDB, the newly formed group displayed their ability to repel and recapture islands from other occupying forces.
The subject of an autonomous, combatant military command is a sensitive subject, given that following World War II, the nation renounced its right to wage war and disbanded its army. In the post-war era, Japanese forces have typically been reserved to natural disaster relief and peacekeeping missions.
However, China's "unilateral escalation" in the East China Sea and North Korea's provocations have spurred many Japanese officials to reinterpret the country's pacifist history and address the emerging threats in recent years.
Check out Japan's latest marine addition to its Self-Defense Forces:
ARDB is Japan's first amphibious warfare brigade since World War II, comprised of around 2,100 troops.
Source: Kyodo News
A recent 20-minute exercise showed how Japanese forces would recapture an island from invaders.
Source: Reuters
Japan has been at odds with China over the control of remote, uninhabited islands on the East China Sea. The dispute has strained ties between the two countries due to the potential economic value — such as oil and gas reserves, shipping lanes, and fishing grounds — in the area.
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