Japan’s largest minelayer practiced defending a chain of strategic islands near Taiwan last week in what Tokyo described as a demonstration of “determination not to allow unilateral changes to the status quo by force.” Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) minesweeper tender JS Uraga (MST-463) and destroyer JS Sawagiri (DD-157) held a series of tactical exercises Friday near the Sakishima Islands, the country’s southwestern most territories located 100 kilometers from Taiwan. The minelaying was meant to “strengthen deterrence in the region and maintain and improve mission execution capabilities,” according to a release from the Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office. Aside

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• USNI News-Japan Holds Minelaying Drills Around Strategic Islands Near Taiwan