Japan Kickstarts Indo–Pacific Warship Tour With Eye on China

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) JS Mogami (FFM-1), a Japanese multi-mission stealth frigate, takes part in the International Fleet Review to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of JMSDF, at Sagami Bay, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Nov. 6, 2022. Issei Kato/Reuters

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) deployed its fleet on April 20 to begin an Indo–Pacific tour to bolster defense cooperation in the face of mounting military threats from communist China.

The annual Indo–Pacific deployment will run until Sept. 17, and the MSDF fleet will make port calls in 17 countries, including the Pacific island nations of Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Palau, and Tonga.