RAF photo
Posted on 01/08/2016 4:40:52 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Britain is considering sending fighter jets to Japan for the first time in decades for joint combat exercises in the country, amid heightened tension in the region over China’s territorial claims.
The announcement of closer military ties with Tokyo came as the Foreign Secretary said that any attempt to restrict air or sea travel in the disputed South China Sea would be viewed as a "red flag".
Philip Hammond said freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, where tensions are high over territorial disputes between China and its neighbours are “non-negotiable†for Britain.
Britain will hold at least one joint military exercise with Japan this year by either sending Typhoon fighter jets to the country, or inviting Japanese troops to large scale Nato exercises in Europe, the Ministry of Defence said.
The two countries will also build ties with staff exchanges, designing a new air-to-air missile together and granting each other access to bases.
Defence sources said a deployment of Typhoons would not be not meant as a message to China, or to North Korea, but to strengthen ties with what is now Britain’s closest security ally in Asia.
Sending Typhoons to the country would be the first time British fighters have gone to Japan since the Cold War.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
RAF photo
Appears to be a marketing ploy to me - which is ok with me. Also, that’s quite a hike for the Typhoon. Wonder how many pit stops it will take?
They’ll be unarmed to avoid offending anyone, and because Her Majesty’s Government won’t give the RAF the money to buy missiles, bombs and cannon ammunition.
Pity they can’t, you know, like send a carrier out there...
Or even a “Harrier carrier”.
>>They’ll be unarmed to avoid offending anyone, and because Her Majesty’s Government won’t give the RAF the money to buy missiles, bombs and cannon ammunition.
Too True.
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