Despite China's objections, thousands of Japanese, Canadian, and New Zealander troops will participate in the military exercise 'Dawn Blitz' with Camp Pendleton Marines and Sailors from June 11 to 28.
According to a Marine Corps news release, Dawn Blitz will involve...
...an amphibious assault, mine operations, live-fire opportunities, and Maritime Prepositioning Force training and seabasing operations.
The training will take place on the beaches of Camp Pendleton, at Twentynine Palms, and aboard ships off the San Diego County coast.
The Marine Corps Times reports Dawn Blitz has raised the concern of the Chinese, because part of the training simulates the recapture of a remote island.
There is a great deal of tension between Japan and China over which country has control over the remote Senkaku Islands, and China doesn't see the training as a coincidence. Through diplomatic channels, China has requested that part of the training be cancelled.
However, the Japanese have denied the training has anything to do with the Senkaku Islands.
Retired Air Force Col. Carl Baker, told the Marine Corps Times:
“As China develops its capabilities to go beyond its regional waters, [Japan] sees a need to enhance that defense. I don’t want it to come across like Japan is preparing for military conflict with China, but it does have to be able to defend its islands because it is an island country.”
So, to the Japanese troops now in Southern California, 歓迎
