A Ground Self-Defense Force combat vehicle with the same firepower as a tank was transported to Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, where exercises assuming the defense of remote islands are being carried out, and it ran on public roads for the first time in Okinawa.
In Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures, large-scale joint exercises between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military are being held assuming the defense of remote islands. One mobile combat vehicle was transported from the mainland by transport plane.
Mobile combat vehicles have the same firepower as tanks, but are lighter than tanks, so they can be transported by transport aircraft, and they traveled on public roads to the garrison on the island.
This is the first time that a mobile combat vehicle will run on public roads in Okinawa, and people were seen protesting the exercise around the airport.
A local woman said, ``I didn't pay attention to the presence of the Self-Defense Forces, but when the vehicle actually passed, I realized that they were training again.''
The Ministry of Defense said that the Japan-U.S. joint exercises, including the transportation of mobile combat vehicles, are significant in strengthening the defense posture of the Nansei Islands.
Governor Tamaki "I'm sorry that the training was carried out"
Governor Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture issued a statement regarding the first time that a mobile combat vehicle of the Self-Defense Forces, which was brought to Yonaguni Island, ran on a public road in Okinawa. I have expressed my concerns about the self-propelled drills and have requested that they not be carried out, but it is truly regrettable that the drills were carried out.From now on, the prefecture will continue to ask the Ministry of Defense to ask the citizens of the prefecture for the implementation of exercises by the Self-Defense Forces in the prefecture. In addition to taking care to minimize the impact, we will ask the citizens of the prefecture to provide even more detailed explanations."