Japan to join 'Garuda Shield' military drills for first time

Japan's involvement comes as Washington and its regional allies step up efforts to counter China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region

Japanese defence forces will participate for the first time in military exercises in Indonesia next month alongside the United States and Australia, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday after talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Qazet.az reports according to Reuters.

Japan's involvement comes as Washington and its regional allies step up efforts to counter China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan has recently been putting heavy diplomatic emphasis on maintaining a "free and open Indo-Pacific," and Kishida visited the region, including Indonesia, earlier this year.

"Indonesia shares fundamental values with us as well as strategic goals, it is a strategic partner," Kishida told a news conference after the two met.

He said Japan's Self-Defence Forces will take part in the Garuda Shield joint military exercises to be held in Indonesia from Aug. 1 with the United States, Australia and others. It will be the first time that Japan has participated.