US marines and Japanese military forces on Sunday held a joint exercise in Ooitaken, in the country's southwest, as part of a training activity that will last until August 30, with live ammunition drills kicking off this weekend, according to the Kyodo News.

Around 600 personnel from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and US Marines stationed in Okinawa are to be included in the joint drill, which will also involve transportation logistics, medical aid and emergency responses.

An officer with the SDF said at the opening ceremony for the exercise that these kinds of joint exercises were the reason why Japanese and US forces were able to integrate effectively during their humanitarian aid response to the Japanese earthquakes last year. A US Marines spokesperson said that the drills are meant to strengthen the partnership between Japan and the US and at the same time enhance technical cooperation.

Local groups staged a rally to protest the joint drill on Sunday.

Global Times