Viral Spread Affecting Japan's Defense Exchanges

Tokyo, March 21 (Jiji Press)--The coronavirus pandemic is affecting defense exchanges, causing concerns over Japanese activities to maintain deterrent capabilities and build confidence with other countries. Tokyo is experiencing a series of cancellations of multilateral meetings on security. Some of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' joint exercises with foreign military forces have been canceled. The Defense Ministry announced earlier this month the postponement of the first meeting of defense ministers from Japan and Pacific island countries planned for early April. The ministry also put off an annual forum of bureau chief-level defense officials with Southeast Asian countries as well as the United States and China. Recent regular meetings with the U.S. military in Japan and oversea trips by senior Japanese defense officials "have been canceled in almost all cases," a ministry source said. An annual international marksmanship competition in Australia, in which the Ground SDF takes part, has been called off. Two Maritime SDF training vessels were refused entry into the Marshall Islands and Micronesia and ended up changing their anchorages. The MSDF needs to make arrangements on a daily basis to secure ports where MSDF vessels can stop, a senior official said. "I must admit that Japan's defense cooperation and exchanges have been affected" by the coronavirus outbreak, Defense Minister Taro Kono told a press conference Tuesday. Military threats to Japan remain intact while the world is battling the outbreak. North Korea fired short-range missiles on March 2 and 9 and on Saturday. Chinese ships are seen in waters near the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea almost every day. The islands are claimed by China. The ministry plans to communicate with other countries by videoconference or telephone. "We have no choice but to maintain our defense skills by conducting domestic exercises as usual," an SDF officer said. END