TOKYO – Japan and the United States began large-scale joint military exercises across multiple locations in Japan on Monday, with Japanese experts warning that the drills would heighten regional tensions and undermine peace and stability in Asia.

The Keen Sword 27 exercises, running through Oct 29, cover multiple domains, including land, sea, air, space, the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. They involve air defense, anti-ship operations, parachute drops, amphibious operations and electromagnetic warfare, with exercise areas spanning Okinawa, Kyushu and Hokkaido, among other locations.

Japan's Type-25 surface-to-ship missile will take part in the exercises for the first time since its formal deployment in March this year. With a range of about 1,000 km, the missile is regarded as one of Japan's first missile systems capable of striking enemy bases, extending its reach well beyond Japanese territory.

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Atsushi Koketsu, professor emeritus at Yamaguchi University, said the missile's participation in the Japan-US joint drills, along with the first deployment of two US weapons systems to Yonaguni Island, would exacerbate regional tensions, calling the developments deeply regrettable.

The Japanese government has repeatedly claimed that the security environment in East Asia is becoming increasingly severe. However, Koketsu said Japan and the US themselves were contributing to the heightened tensions.

Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, also criticized the exercises, describing them as extremely dangerous and calling for an end to military drills that undermine peace and stability in Asia.

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According to previous reports by Kyodo News, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the US military will deploy approximately 45,000 and 12,000 personnel, respectively, for the exercises.

The Type-25 missile will be transferred from its base in Kumamoto Prefecture to the Ohnobaru training ground in the Nagasaki-Saga area for anti-ship drills. The missile will not be fired during the exercises.

Meanwhile, two advanced US military equipment – the Navy and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System – are scheduled to be deployed to Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture for the first time during the exercises.

The Keen Sword field exercises are generally held every two years.