Sm Nahiduzzaman
Washington/Tokyo, September 11, 2025 – The United States along with Japan have kicked off extensive joint military exercises which mainly focus on advanced missile drills. It is a step that has already attracted a very harsh reaction from China. The Chinese authorities have not mincing their words in describing the exercises as a direct threat to their national security.
The drills, which staggered this week, involving lands, seas, and the air, are the implementation of a long-term defense alliance agreement between Washington and Tokyo. These exercises are planned to practically test the capabilities of readiness, interoperability, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. This is the area that has become very hot and close to confrontation as the strategic competition between China and the US intensifies.
Focus on Missile Defense and Deterrence
The main aspect of the current drill is the initiation of various missile defense exercises, which cover the installation of Patriot missile batteries, Aegis-equipped destroyers, and other advanced fighter jets. The defense officials of Japan have made it public that the flights in the drills include the scenarios where both the countries have to react to the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles. It is a very direct indication to the potential adversaries in the area.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that the goals of these exercises are to“ strengthen collective defense capabilities and guarantee peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.” Apart from that, the U.S. has also said that these drills are just defensive ones and are not aimed at provoking a conflict.
China Reacts Strongly
China hit back immediately by condemning the drills. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a declaration, charged the U.S. and Japan of “aggravating tensions and subverting regional stability” through the implementation of missile drill that comes a threat China argues directly to its military capabilities.
“These types of provocative actions are only going to escalate the chances of a clash and undermine the peace in Asia,” was one of the statements. Chinese government-run media expanded the scope of the joint exercises by labeling them “a conflict drill” and informing that China will not be a passive observer if its territorial rights are violated.”
Japan’s Changing Defense Posture
Such practices for Japan signify these exercises to be nothing less than a revelation of a modified defensive strategy. In spite of being restrained by its pacifist constitution, Japan has over the last several years stepped up its military expenditure and also deepened its security relations not only with the US but also with the regional partners like Australia and the Philippines.
Japanese premier Fumio Kishida has stated that the maneuvers are a wanted move to “defend Japan and contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.” Furthermore, Tokyo, while still maintaining its distance from an outright showdown with China, has been more vocal expressing its anxiety at China’s military conduct in the Taiwan Strait and the contentious East China Sea islands.
A Broader U.S. Strategy
That is to say that for the US, the drills fit seamlessly into an overall strategy of bolstering alliances and counteracting China’s increasing sway in the region. The US has been very active in performing joint exercises with several of its regional allies in the areas from the South China Sea through the Philippine Sea. These operations are typical of one including missile defense as well as anti-submarine warfare.
According to military pundits these activities were planned primarily to make a very strong impression on the Chinese side. Particularly as tensions around Taiwan remain at a boiling point. This small island which is claimed by China but which is quite different from the mainland has become a flashpoint of the rivalry between the United States and China, both sides have not only talked about stepped-up military deployment but also carried out related activities in waters nearby.
What This Means for Regional Security
Although the U.S. and Japan maintain that the drills are defensive measures, their large size and the fact that missile exercises are involved indicate a growing concern amongst participants about possible conflicts in the region. Some cautions have also been issued that in the meantime the danger of conflict resulting from the misunderstandings has gone up if the militaries operating on either side, that is Chinese, US, and allies, continue to repeat such operations.
“Deterrence carries a lot of weight, but so does conversation,” said Dr. Keiko Matsuda, a security analyst based in Tokyo. “The more wires that go out between Washington, Tokyo, and Beijing, the nearer the balls falling down in the dark, or in other words, the unintended clashes.”
Regional Reactions and Diplomatic Implications
These exercises have not only irritated China but have also elicited responses from the other countries in the region. South Korea and Australia, two crucial U.S. allies, have supported the drills as necessary for the stability of the area, whereas ASEAN member states have called for calm to avoid the confrontation.
Some international experts are concerned that the regularity and magnitude of these drills could result in accidental clashes at sea or in the air, particularly in the vicinity of disputed territories such as the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan Strait.
The Pentagon has also underlined the technological facet of the maneuvers, highlighting the incorporation of cutting-edge missile tracking systems, cyber defense coordination, and the sharing of real-time intelligence between U.S. and Japanese forces. Such progressions are meant to assuage prompt action abilities and to augment deterrence against possible threats.
Historical Context
Joint U.S.-Japan military exercises have always existed with no exceptions. After World War II, the U.S. and Japan established a security alliance which was later consolidated under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security (1960). Over the years, these drills have been transformed from basic training exercises to complex multidomain operations that involve the use of air, sea, cyber, and space resources.
The emergence of China as a military and economic powerhouse has altered the situation. The Chinese navy and missile modernization have significantly advanced most of the neighboring countries in the last few years, thus the US and Japan need to enhance their joint drills to ensure that they have a strong deterrence capability. Experts are of the opinion that these exercises convey a clear message to China: while talking is the first option, one cannot overlook the preparation of war.
Expert Opinions
- Dr. Keiko Matsuda, Tokyo-based security analyst: “Deterrence is important, but so is dialogue. Without communication channels between Washington, Tokyo, and Beijing, the chances of an accidental clash are rising.”
- Dr. Michael Green, senior advisor on Asia-Pacific security: “Public drills send a dual message: to reassure allies and warn rivals. The sophistication of these exercises shows that the U.S. is taking potential threats very seriously.”
- Prof. Li Wei, Beijing University: “The exercises are provocative and could escalate tensions. China is likely to respond with its own drills, creating a cycle of military signaling.”
Finally, The joint U.S.-Japan exercises underscore the shifting balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, where military readiness, alliances, and deterrence are increasingly shaping the security landscape. As Washington and Tokyo deepen their cooperation, Beijing’s warnings signal that the region’s future will likely be defined by both military competition and diplomatic maneuvering.
For now, the world is watching closely — as drills meant to protect peace may themselves become flashpoints in a region already fraught with tension.
The next few months will be crucial in determining whether military signaling can coexist with diplomacy, or if escalating exercises could inadvertently bring the Indo-Pacific closer to confrontation.
