They will be held off the coast of Hawaii from 17 to 31 August.
The Japanese Navy intends to take part in a joint naval exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) with the U.S., which will be held in August off the coast of Hawaii. Defense Minister Taro Kono told reporters on Friday.
“We expect the Japanese Navy to participate in the RIMPAC exercise”, – he said. – “From the point of view of preventing infections with the new coronavirus, it is better not to create conditions for human contact. But I don’t think military exercises of warships involve such a risk.”
The exercise will take place August 17-31, according to the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet. They have been conducted in the Pacific Ocean since 1971, usually every two years. Permanent participants of the RIMPAC are the USA, Canada and Australia. Japan joined the maneuvers in 1980 and the Republic of Korea in 1990.