Japan Maritime SDF destroyers visit port in Vietnam for 1st time

Maritime SDF destroyers visit port in Vietnam for 1st time

Maritime SDF destroyers visit port in Vietnam for 1st time：The Asahi Shimbun

CAM RANH, Vietnam--For the first time since the end of World War II, Japanese destroyers dropped anchor at a Vietnamese port, signifying the two nations' defense cooperation.

On April 12, the Ariake and Setogiri from the Maritime Self-Defense Force made a port call at Cam Ranh Bay, one of the most strategic areas for Vietnam's defense of the South China Sea.

"This is a historic visit because the selection of the port of call was made based on extremely strategic factors," said a Japanese government source.

Because it is rare for foreign vessels to be allowed into the port, the entry by the two Japanese destroyers is a symbol of the strengthened defense cooperation between Japan and Vietnam. That cooperation has been heightened, in part, due to moves being made by China to strengthen its effective control over the waters in the South China Sea.

Located in the southern part of the nation, Cam Ranh Bay is close to the Spratly Islands, which are at the center of a territorial dispute involving China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

During the Cold War, naval ships of the Soviet Union used the port at Cam Ranh Bay as a major military installation.

The two MSDF destroyers are anchored at a new international port that opened in March. MSDF officers said the visit was part of a training voyage, which included a previous stop at Subic Bay in the Philippines.

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Maritime SDF destroyers visit port in Vietnam for 1st time

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is this a matter of concern for China? no matter what Japan want to do in SCS, it will not deter China's activities in SCS.

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Japanese maritime self-defence vessels visit Vietnam
VNA TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 - 18:52:08


The welcome ceremony for two Japanese training ships (Source: VNA)

Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Two training ships of the Japanese maritime self-defence force with 500 crew members aboard anchored at Cam Ranh International Port in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on April 12 to start a four-day visit to Vietnam.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Fukada Hiroshi read out a letter from Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen sent to the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence, Vietnam People’s Navy and the provincial People’s Committee, commending Cam Ranh International Port as the best of its kind in the region.

The port, which has been recently put into operation in Cam Ranh Bay, holds a significant and favourable position, the letter said, adding that it is expected to bring in huge benefits when developed into a stable logistical services supplier for military and civil ships from countries participating in international cooperation activities.

The Japanese Defence Minister expressed his belief that the port will make remarkable contributions to peace and stability in the East Sea as well as in the region and beyond.

During their stay in Vietnam, the Japanese guests are scheduled to meet with the High Command of the Naval Zone 4 and leaders of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee.

The two sides will also hold sports and art exchanges.

During the visit to Japan by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in September 2015 and to Vietnam by Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen in November 2015, the two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral defence collaboration.

The visit of the Japanese ships JS Ariake and JS Setogiri aims to realise the contents of cooperation reached by the leaders of the two countries’ Parties, States and Defence Ministries.

It is also taking place within the context of thriving relations, particularly in defence, between Vietnam and Japan in the framework of a newly developing bilateral strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.-VNA

Godman said:

I don't see anything against China here. This is between Vietnam and Japan.

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You are right, this post is not regarding China at all

@William Hung Please stop arguing with the poster in question, I have already reported his post for off topic, and trolling, please stay on course and do not engage with the poster you are currently tangling with.

This is the second port call of foreign navy to International Cam Ranh port. The first one is by Singapore navy.

17-21 Mar 2016

Japan to send destroyer through South China Sea to join joint drills off Indonesia

The Maritime Self-Defense Force said Tuesday that it will dispatch its destroyer Ise to a multinational maritime exercise to be hosted by the Indonesian navy on April 12-16.

The 13,950-ton vessel will travel in the South China Sea to join the Komodo Exercise set to be conducted in areas near the western Indonesian city of Padang.

Dispatching the Ise has nothing to do with the U.S. Navy’s freedom of navigation operation near artificial islands that China built in the South China Sea, MSDF officials said.

But the move can be seen as a joint effort by Japan and the United States to counter China’s maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The Japanese destroyer is also expected to make a port call in Subic Bay in the Philippines, where the MSDF submarine Oyashio arrived on Sunday.

The Ise is based in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. Multiple helicopters can simultaneously land on and take off from the vessel.

The exercise is expected to include the participation of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus several other countries.

Adm. Tomohisa Takei, MSDF chief of staff, told a news conference he hopes that the MSDF’s participation in the exercise will improve its tactical skills and help promote mutual understanding and trust among the participating countries.

During the exercise period, an Indonesian-led international naval review and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium are scheduled to be held. Takei is slated to attend both events.

Japan to send destroyer through South China Sea to join joint drills off Indonesia | The Japan Times

Japanese naval ships visit Cam Ranh port in Vietnam

Tuoi Tre News

Updated : 04/13/2016 11:49 GMT + 7



Two Japanese escort ships arrived at an international seaport in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa on Tuesday to commence their visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The two vessels, JS Ariake and JS Setogiri, carrying 500 crew members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force docked at Cam Ranh International Seaport in the afternoon.

This is the first visit to the port by the Japanese naval unit, according to Morishita Osamu, commander of the two vessels.

The occasion is aimed at sharpening the skills of Japanese naval officers via an extended sea journey as well as an exchange of activities with their Vietnamese counterparts.

At the welcome ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Fukada Hiroshi read a letter written by Japan's Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani.

Being a free and open maritime area, the East Vietnam Sea plays an essential role in the peace and prosperity of the region, Hiroshi quoted the Japanese minister as saying.

Maintaining the East Vietnam Sea as a tranquil and safe maritime route in accordance with international law has become a top priority in determining stability for the region and the world, according to Minister Nakatani.

He also evaluated the Cam Ranh port favourably, saying that the facility, in its strategic location, would provide vital assistance to the cooperation of civil and military ships from many nations.



Morishita Osamu, commander of the two Japanese vessels, speaks at the welcome ceremony. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Japanese minister hoped that more visits to the Vietnamese international seaport could be conducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in order to further deepen the relationship between Japanese and Vietnamese people, the military, and the two navies in particular.

The visiting naval unit from Japan is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee and the 4th Regional Command of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Officers from both two naval forces will also participate in friendly volleyball games.

Following the exchange, officers on the two escort ships are expected to carry out a training session with their Vietnamese counterparts, focusing on exercising the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES).

Weighing 4,550 metric tons, the JS Ariake is 151 meters long and 17.4 meters wide, while the JS Setogiri weighs 3,550 metric tons, is 137 meters long, and measures 14.6 meters wide.

The naval ships are both equipped with multiple artilleries, surface-to-air missiles, and anti-ship missiles.

Prior to the visit to Vietnam, the two vessels, accompanying a submarine, arrived in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years, AFP reported.

Their journey to the two nations started on March 19 and is anticipated to conclude on April 27, according to Osamu.



Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Fukada Hiroshi at the welcome ceremony. Photo: Tuoi Tre