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Japan's Largest Warship Arrives in Indonesia

Japan's Largest Warship Arrives in Indonesia

Three Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers, including the country's largest, JS Kaga, arrived at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Tuesday morning (18/09), as part of a two-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region aimed at improving naval cooperation.

Indo Southeast Asia Deployment 2018 seeks to enhance the Japanese navy's operational capabilities, while promoting cooperation and interoperability with partner navies.

The Japanese fleet will conduct a joint exercise with the Indonesian Navy, Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda, commander of Escort Flotilla 4, said during a press conference.

"The deployment exercises are aimed at increasing strategic capacity of the force and cooperation with partner navies, while also making an active contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," Fukuda said.

JS Kaga (helicopter-carrier class) in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta (18/9) Image: Rizki Akbar Hasan / Liputan6.com
JS Kaga (helicopter-carrier class) in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta (18/9) Image: Rizki Akbar Hasan / Liputan6.com

 

Escort Flotilla 4 includes the helicopter destroyer JS Kaga and escort destroyers JS Inazuma and JS Suzutsuki, comprising around 800 officers and crewmembers in total. The fleet departed from Japan on Aug. 26 and made its first stop in the Philippines. After Indonesia, it will continue to Sri Lanka, India and Singapore.

Fukuda said this deployment is part of Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Japan sent JS Kaga's sister ship, JS Izumo, on a similar tour of the South China Sea and Indian Ocean last year.

According to Reuters, the Japanese submarine JDS Kuroshio joined Escort Flotilla 4 for its first naval drill in the South China Sea on Monday. The country's growing presence in the disputed waters may be related to concerns over China's military activities in the region.

First Adm. Denih Hendrata, left, and Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda. Image: JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro
First Adm. Denih Hendrata, left, and Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda. Image: JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro

China claims most of the South China Sea, has bases on reefs and shoals it has reclaimed and has increased naval operations in the Indian Ocean.

However, considering China's claims, Fukuda said their military activities can be understood.

"Only when those activities are conducted without respecting international law will they be considered a threat," he said.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan.

JS Suzutsuki (destroyer-class) in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta (18/9). Image: Rizki Akbar Hasan / Liputan6.com
JS Suzutsuki (destroyer-class) in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta (18/9). Image: Rizki Akbar Hasan / Liputan6.com

 

"This visit is important for all of us; to preserve and strengthen relations [not only] between our navies, but to further strengthen overall bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan," said First Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Navy's Main Naval Base III.

According to Fukuda, the two navies will conduct training exchanges and improve cooperation on humanitarian assistance and mitigation of natural disasters.

"The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indonesian Navy have a mutual understanding on the importance of maritime order based on the rule of law and made our contribution to regional peace and stability," Fukuda said.

 


Source : Jakarta Globe

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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