The Japanese Self-Defense Forces' first amphibious fighting unit went into full operation on Saturday, with its main mission being to defend the country's remote southwest islands in the face of China's growing maritime assertiveness."The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade will show to the international society our firm resolve to defend our islands," a senior Defense Ministry official said on behalf of Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera during a ceremony to mark the launch of the Ground Self-Defense Force unit, touching on the tough security environment in the East China Sea.Based in the p…READ FULL ARTICLE
