Latest news with #JapanMaritimeSelf-DefenceForce
The Star
08-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Japanese warships visit New Zealand's capital for the first time in almost 90 years
Two ships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, JS Ise and destroyer JS Suzunami tied up in the port of Wellington, New Zealand to begin a three-day ceremonial port visit, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. - Stuff via AP WELLINGTON: Japanese warships docked in New Zealand's capital Friday (Aug 8) for the first time in almost 90 years amid efforts by Tokyo to deepen its strategic ties in the South Pacific Ocean. Two destroyers with more than 500 crew on board sailed into Wellington harbour accompanied by the New Zealand navy ship HMNZS Canterbury. The JS Ise and destroyer JS Suzunami were on an Indo-Pacific deployment and arrived from Sydney, where Japan's military took part this month in war games involving New Zealand, Australia and other countries. The Wellington visit was a ceremonial one, but it came as Japan, whose only treaty ally is the United States, has increasingly sought to deepen bilateral military cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions. "Our defence force are developing cooperative work, not only with New Zealand and Australia but also many Pacific Island countries,' Japan's envoy to Wellington, Makoto Osawa, told reporters Friday. "Our main goal is the free and open Indo-Pacific.' The ambassador's remarks followed the announcement Tuesday by Australia's government that Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had won the bid for a contract to build Australian warships, beating out a German firm. While officials in Canberra said the Japanese proposal was the best and cheapest, they also hailed it as the biggest defence industry agreement between the countries. New Zealand too has sought to shore up its strategic and military relations in Asia as part of a foreign policy reset in recent years that the government says has turned more attention on Pacific cooperation and security. Officials in Wellington announced in July that work had started on a defence logistics agreement with Japan, intended to make it easier for the countries' militaries to work together. Japanese naval vessels do not often make visits so far south in the Pacific Ocean, but the rich and strategically important waters of New Zealand, Australia and smaller Pacific Island countries are increasingly contested by the world's major powers, making it the site of a fierce battle for influence between Beijing and Western nations. Although remote, New Zealand has recently been drawn into more fraught questions of regional security. In February, live firing exercises by Chinese naval frigates in the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia drew alarm from those countries' governments after flights were forced to divert at short notice. The last port visit to Wellington by a Japanese naval vessel was in 1936, New Zealand's military said. A Japanese ship visited New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, in 2016. - AP
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China, Yomiuri reports, Asia News
TOKYO — Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday (July 6), as the two US allies increase co-operation to counter Beijing. The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources. Defence ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding that the Philippine military will inspect the ships this summer as part of the final preparations. A delegation of naval experts from the Philippines will conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships, the Philippine Navy said in a statement on Sunday, following an official invitation from Japan's defence ministry. "The outcome of this inspection will guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the Philippine Navy's modernisation efforts," it said, adding that the initiative reflects the deepening strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan. A Japanese defence ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the report and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Tokyo and Manila say they face challenges from Beijing's increasingly assertive moves in waters including the South China Sea for the Philippines and the East China Sea for Japan. Bilateral military co-operation has included joint exercises, a Japanese radar aid package and a high-level strategic dialogue. Last year they signed a reciprocal access agreement, the first such for Japan in Asia, allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil. To clear military equipment export restrictions for the destroyers under Japan's pacifist mandates, Tokyo will treat the installation of equipment and communication systems requested by Manila as a joint development project, the Yomiuri said. The Abukuma-class destroyer escort, a relatively small type of destroyer with a 2,000-ton standard displacement, is operated by a crew of about 120 and is armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes and guns, according to a Japanese navy website. The Philippine Navy does not have destroyers, only frigates and corvettes, which are typically smaller and lighter armed. [[nid:719698]]
Observer
06-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
Japan navy to export used destroyers to Philippines
TOKYO: Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two US allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing. The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources. Defence ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding that the Philippine military will inspect the ships this summer as part of the final preparations. A delegation of naval experts from the Philippines will conduct an in-depth assessment of the ships, the Philippine Navy said in a statement on Sunday, following an official invitation from Japan's defence ministry. "The outcome of this inspection will guide further deliberations on the potential acquisition and its alignment with the Philippine Navy's modernisation efforts," it said, adding that the initiative reflects the deepening strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan. — Reuters
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China, Yomiuri reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese. TOKYO - Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on July 6, as the two US allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing. The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources. Defence ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore in June, the Yomiuri said, adding the Philippine military is set to inspect the destroyers this summer as part of the final preparations. A Japanese defence ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the report. A Philippine military spokesperson and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Tokyo and Manila say they face challenges from Beijing's increasingly assertive moves in waters including the South China Sea for the Philippines and the East China Sea for Japan. Bilateral military cooperation has included joint exercises, a Japanese radar aid package and a high-level strategic dialogue. In 2024, they signed a reciprocal access agreement, the first such for Japan in Asia, allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil. To clear military equipment export restrictions for the destroyers under Japan's pacifist mandates, Tokyo will treat the installation of equipment and communication systems requested by Manila as a joint development project, the Yomiuri said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Business High Court orders Instagram seller to pay Louis Vuitton $200,000 in damages over counterfeit goods Singapore MOH studying 18 proposals to integrate TCM into public healthcare Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker World Death toll from Texas floods reaches at least 43; dozens still missing Singapore Red Lions and naval divers join forces for Jump of Unity at NDP 2025 Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps The Abukuma-class destroyer escort, a relatively small type of destroyer with a 2,000-tonne standard displacement, is operated by a crew of about 120 and is armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes and guns, according to a Japanese navy website. The Philippine Navy does not have destroyers, only frigates and corvettes, which are typically smaller and lighter-armed vessels. REUTERS
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Royal Navy warship sent to put pressure on North Korea amid rising tensions in region
HMS Spey has conducted operations in the Sea of Japan alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force A Royal Navy vessel has been dispatched to exert pressure on North Korea amidst escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. HMS Spey has joined forces with Japanese naval ships to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolutions against the isolated Asian country, which stands accused of increasing its weapons production, in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. In collaboration with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, HMS Spey kept a close watch on North Korean vessels suspected of violating sanctions previously imposed on Pyongyang. It is believed that Kim Jong-un is generating income for his country through weapons proliferation, leading to heightened maritime surveillance to curb trading. Information gathered from the operation was subsequently shared with the United Nations Command, reports the Express. The Royal Navy confirmed that the exercise, which saw personnel from 148 Battery come aboard for Exercise Bersama Shield 2025, contributes to its ongoing efforts to maintain security in the region. Following the patrol, Spey docked at Sasebo Naval Base in Japan, where it hosted several high-ranking individuals from the UK, Japan and US naval forces. This senior delegation included Group Captain Andrew Johnson, Director of United Nations Command - Rear, Rear Admiral Yasutaka Ebata of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, and Captain Mike Fontaine, Commanding Officer of Fleet Activities Sasebo from the US Navy. The US Navy has intensified its efforts to establish order in the seas of the Indo-Pacific region, following repeated attempts by China to encroach upon Taiwanese air and sea space. The Royal Navy has confirmed that the meeting of delegates provided an opportunity to bolster relations with its Japanese and American counterparts. It was further added that the three powers deliberated on enhancing operational cooperation to address security threats in the region. A friendly football match was also held onboard, pitting Spey's crew against sailors from Japan's JMSDF Escort Flotilla 2, with the latter emerging victorious with a 4-3 win. Commander Paul Caddy, HMS Spey's Commanding Officer, expressed that it had been an honour for the ship to support the United Nations Command.
