Air Combat Drills With Japan To Bolster Defense Ties

Australia and Japan are set to hold a new bilateral air exercise in response to China's militarization of the South China Sea, reports the Australian. 

Exercise Bushido Guardian will run from Sept. 11 to Oct. 8 on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, said Defense Minister Linda Reynolds.

Australia is sending 150 airmen, seven F/A-18 Hornets, a KC-30A tanker, a C-17A Globemaster III transport and a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft for the drills. 

The exercise would evaluate their...