Ishiba inspects MSDF vessels in apparent bid highlight shipbuilding prowess
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Maizuru base in Kyoto Prefecture on Sunday to inspect vessels.
Ishiba also talked with officials of Japan Marine United, which builds SDF ships, in an apparent move to highlight his country's technological capabilities in the shipbuilding sector. Tokyo has offered cooperation in shipbuilding as a bargaining chip in its tariff negotiations with the United States.
On Sunday, Ishiba boarded the sophisticated Mogami-class frigate Agano and the Hyuga, a helicopter-carrier, to inspect the ships for about two hours.
After that, he gave a speech to MSDF members.
"The current size of the SDF personnel is only 90% of the prescribed level. This is an extremely serious problem," he said.
"How to secure enough crew members for MSDF ships is also a problem," he added, expressing his eagerness to improve the treatment of SDF personnel.
Ishiba also had a dialogue session with members at the MSDF Maizuru District Headquarters.
Japan Marine United is building an Aegis system-equipped ship for missile defense and the country's first Arctic research vessel with ice-breaking capability.
After visiting the company's Maizuru shipyard, Ishiba will move to Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, for talks with officials of construction machinery maker Komatsu.
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