Japan’s MSDF beefs up operations

MSDF to remind China it’s there.

Japan plans Vietnam port call to check Chinese expansion

TOKYO — Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Forces will visit Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay next fiscal year — a critical step in Tokyo’s efforts to beef up operations in the South China Sea and counter Chinese expansion together with allies.

The port is near the Spratly Islands, where China continues to build up reefs into artificial islands. Japan plans in fiscal 2016 to send ships to Cam Ranh for the first time, letting them refuel and restock on food and other supplies. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani will likely sign an agreement on the matter with Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh during a Nov. 6 meeting in Hanoi.

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Source: asia.nikkei.com

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