Japan did away with another postwar taboo on Wednesday, firing off Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles for the first time from the Philippines during joint military drills that included the U.S. and others.??
The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have taken on a combat role for the first time in this year¡¯s Balikatan military exercises, with about 1,400 personnel, multiple warships and aircraft and antiship missile systems deployed to the Philippines.?
Wednesday¡¯s launches hit a mock enemy ship ¡ª the decommissioned Philippine Navy¡¯s Quezon corvette ¡ª about 75 kilometers off the shores of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, in the country¡¯s northwest.
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