Japan continues to reinforce its Southern Islands. A new Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12式地対艦誘導弾) unit has recently been deployed at the garrison on Miyakojima island.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the US Army conducted their first ever combined anti-ship drills in Japan, as part of the annual Orient Shield exercise, according to pictures released by the US Army Japan press office.