Stars and Stripes:

U.S. Marines and Japan’s new amphibious brigade will practice amphibious landings on islands off the coast of Japan, as part of drills this month involving 46,000 troops from both nations.

The landings will take place during the Keen Sword exercise beginning Oct. 26, Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement on Wednesday.

Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, a force modeled after the U.S. Marines and charged with defending outer islands, some of which are claimed by China, will participate in the training. The brigade has been building its capabilities with the Marines’ help.

Last year, members of the unit trained at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and practiced beach landings with the Marines in Australia during the biennial Talisman Sabre drills…

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