Tokyo wants the United States to minimize troop movements outside its facilities during the exercises

The request is related to the recent arrest of a US Marine on the island of Okinawa on charges of murdering and robbing a local resident.

Tokyo, October 17. /TASS/. According to Ambassador Arjan, the Ministry of Defense of Japan has requested that the presence of US military personnel outside its facilities be minimized during the large-scale joint exercise Keen Sword, which begins on October 19.

The statement said that the request was made to General Stephen Jost, the commander of US forces in Japan. The request is related to the recent arrest of a US Marine on the island of Okinawa on charges of murdering and robbing a local resident.

As noted, during the exercise, the US military will be stationed primarily at Japanese military facilities. At the same time, Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, the chief of the Japanese Army's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the Kane Sword maneuvers would be conducted unrelated to the killings in Okinawa.

As of Oct. 29, 45,000 soldiers and officers from Japan and about 12,000 from the United States will participate in the exercises. Up to 300 aircraft are planned to participate, using multiple rocket launchers and the latest Japanese and American missile systems. Participation of units from seven other countries including Australia, Germany and France is expected. The Keen Sword Exercises are held every two years and alternate with the US-Japan Command and Staff exercise Keen Edge.