Japan shows off naval might, cites 'severe' security issues
Source: Agencies |
October 15, 2012, Monday
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JAPAN'S navy marked its 60th anniversary with a major exercise yesterday intended to show off its maritime strength. The display comes amid a tense territorial dispute with China.
About 40 ships - including state-of-the-art destroyers, hovercraft able to launch assaults on rough coastlines and new conventionally powered submarines - took part in Fleet Review 2012, the maritime equivalent of a military parade. About 30 naval aircraft, mostly helicopters, also participated.
Japan's navy was joined by warships from the United States, Singapore and Australia. Representatives from more than 20 countries also attended the event staged in waters south of Tokyo.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who watched aboard the destroyer JS Kurama, said Japan faces "severe" challenges to its security, though he did not specifically mention the dispute with China over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
Noda called on the sailors taking part in the exercise, which is held every three years but was expanded this year because of the 60th anniversary, to be prepared to face "new responsibilities" as the security situation around the country changes.
Japan's navy - formally called the Maritime Self-Defense Force - is among the best-equipped and best-trained in the world. As part of a post-World War II mutual defense pact, Japan also hosts the US 7th Fleet, which includes the USS George Washington aircraft carrier battle group.
But Tokyo has been "alarmed" in recent years by the rise of neighboring China's naval forces, which some strategists say could upset the "regional status quo" and erode Japan's ability to "deter challenges" to key sea lanes.
Such fears have escalated this year amid the islands dispute. Largely in response, Japan is strengthening its naval fleet by acquiring amphibious landing craft and is also mulling the purchase of unmanned drones to improve its offshore surveillance capabilities.
About 40 ships - including state-of-the-art destroyers, hovercraft able to launch assaults on rough coastlines and new conventionally powered submarines - took part in Fleet Review 2012, the maritime equivalent of a military parade. About 30 naval aircraft, mostly helicopters, also participated.
Japan's navy was joined by warships from the United States, Singapore and Australia. Representatives from more than 20 countries also attended the event staged in waters south of Tokyo.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who watched aboard the destroyer JS Kurama, said Japan faces "severe" challenges to its security, though he did not specifically mention the dispute with China over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
Noda called on the sailors taking part in the exercise, which is held every three years but was expanded this year because of the 60th anniversary, to be prepared to face "new responsibilities" as the security situation around the country changes.
Japan's navy - formally called the Maritime Self-Defense Force - is among the best-equipped and best-trained in the world. As part of a post-World War II mutual defense pact, Japan also hosts the US 7th Fleet, which includes the USS George Washington aircraft carrier battle group.
But Tokyo has been "alarmed" in recent years by the rise of neighboring China's naval forces, which some strategists say could upset the "regional status quo" and erode Japan's ability to "deter challenges" to key sea lanes.
Such fears have escalated this year amid the islands dispute. Largely in response, Japan is strengthening its naval fleet by acquiring amphibious landing craft and is also mulling the purchase of unmanned drones to improve its offshore surveillance capabilities.
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