According to Reuters news service:
Under mutual defense guidelines drawn up in August 1999, Japan has agreed to provide logistical support to the U.S. military in the event of an emergency in the region.
China and North Korea regard that as a ruse, saying it is actually intended to protect the island of Taiwan, which the mainland Chinese government regards as a renegade province and has often threatened to recapture by military force.
In these first-ever joint maneuvers, more than 21,000 soldiers and 310 jets will participate in exercises in Japanese territorial waters and airspace as well as at land facilities run by Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
Both the United States and Japan, sensitive to Japan's war-renouncing constitution, say the 17 days of military exercises are aimed only at preparing for a possible invasion of Japan and are not targeted at any country.
The United States now has around 48,000 military personnel stationed in Japan.
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