The US military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces are scheduled to carry out a 13-day joint military exercises starting today.

Japan is expected to send some 25 thousand personnel, 20 vessels and some 260 jets.  The US is expected to send some 11 thousand soldiers. The drills will be conducts at sites throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and the Northern Mariana Islands.  

Okinawa will see a drill stimulating the scenario of when the US is at war with a third party, and Japan offers help. Many believe this is to prepare Japan's Self-Defense Forces for involvement in similar situations.