Japan’s plan to retrofit its 27,000-ton Izumo–class helicopter destroyers into aircraft carriers has Beijing worried. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the move could in effect change the warships’ use from self-defense to military expansion, rather than a simple boost to their combat capabilities.
The ministry also warned that if Tokyo was bent on military buildup, it could risk putting the recent thaw in relations between the two nations back on ice.
“Making an aggressive move like this may drive the country to repeat its militaristic history,” the nationalist Global Times also warned in its report. Ties between China and Japan had been restored after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Beijing in October.
The 248-meter Izumo–class helicopter destroyers are now the largest surface combatants of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force since World War II, bearing a strong resemblance to conventional aircraft carriers.
Its lead ship was launched at Yokohama in 2013 with stated key missions including anti-submarine warfare and border-area surveillance as well as the swift deployment of troops and materials for disaster relief.
Two of the vessels – the Izumo and Kaga – have already been in service with two under construction and two planned.
Destroyers of this class can carry a crew of 970 and a maximum of 28 helicopters with armaments including the Raytheon-made Phalanx close-in weapons system against anti-ship missiles and helicopters.
Japan will write the plan into its latest National Defense Program Guidelines at the end of the year, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya announced at a press conference on Tuesday. The newly installed defense chief also said the retrofitted carriers would carry US-made F-35B stealth fighter jets capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings.
Japan will order 100 more F-35 fighter jets, including both the F-35A and the F-35B, from Lockheed Martin.
Under the war-renouncing Article 9 of its pacifist constitution, Japan cannot possess attack aircraft carriers, as it is only allowed to use force for self-defense.
Japanese military sources confirmed that the possibility of operating fixed-wing aircraft was incorporated into the design of the ships from the earliest stages of the Izumo program. The aircraft elevators and the deck paint were designed to handle aircraft like the F-35B, and it would be possible to add a ski-jump to the flight deck for the fighters’ operations.
Enb Libra
Haven’t I heard of that same old same old time and again in the past? I mean I told you guys that’s it’s known as Chinglish haven’t I? So who told you it was English, whatever English is? Just stay on topic. Changing the subject won’t do you any good.
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Enb Libra
Haven’t I heard of that same old same old time and again in the past? I mean I told you guys that’s it’s known as Chinglish haven’t I? So who told you it was English, whatever English is? Just stay on topic. Changing the subject won’t do you any good.
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Enb Libra
***peaceful Chinese***
But, all Chinese are peaceful Chinese until and unless you threaten them harm.
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Enb Libra
***peaceful Chinese***
But, all Chinese are peaceful Chinese until and unless you threaten them harm.
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Bruce Kwong tracing back Rizvi’s other postings, from certain words that he used, i conclude that he’s Chinese either from Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Bruce Kwong tracing back Rizvi’s other postings, from certain words that he used, i conclude that he’s Chinese either from Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Matthew Beeler
Yes, ROK is very much a rogue state to me. Anyone, any country, or any society that knowingly and willingly gang up with foreign powers to gang bang those of their own genesis are rogue states in my book.
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Matthew Beeler
Yes, ROK is very much a rogue state to me. Anyone, any country, or any society that knowingly and willingly gang up with foreign powers to gang bang those of their own genesis are rogue states in my book.
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Oh boi, can’t wait for WW3. Anyways, I’m siding with Japan this time because China needs population control. I also hope someone nukes Philippines.
Oh boi, can’t wait for WW3. Anyways, I’m siding with Japan this time because China needs population control. I also hope someone nukes Philippines.
Jane Du I’m beginning to suspect that you spy or work with CCP intelligence service and might be doing covert ops in the US, if you are staying there. I’ll get in touch with a relative in the NSA and check your activities. Though you may not be willing to furnish your ID, it would help if you do so if really work legally with Lockheed as you claimed. Anyway, I’ll just provide this info and see what the NSA can do.
Jane Du I’m beginning to suspect that you spy or work with CCP intelligence service and might be doing covert ops in the US, if you are staying there. I’ll get in touch with a relative in the NSA and check your activities. Though you may not be willing to furnish your ID, it would help if you do so if really work legally with Lockheed as you claimed. Anyway, I’ll just provide this info and see what the NSA can do.
Bruce Kwong You talk nonsense and without any basis. We are a family of war veterans and we’re not afraid to fight tonite.
Bruce Kwong You talk nonsense and without any basis. We are a family of war veterans and we’re not afraid to fight tonite.
Enb Libra you admit your pino , sorry conversation ends.
Enb Libra you admit your pino , sorry conversation ends.
Flora de los Sinensis Your English is so bad that it’s difficult for me understanding your message. Maybe you should write in Chinese better. We can use translations from the internet.
Lastly, stop using fake Spanish or Portuguese name as it doesn’t show the way you write.
Flora de los Sinensis Your English is so bad that it’s difficult for me understanding your message. Maybe you should write in Chinese better. We can use translations from the internet.
Lastly, stop using fake Spanish or Portuguese name as it doesn’t show the way you write.
Yashad Rizvi I’m having fun too ! These Chinese or Wumao, as you said, react violently like kids when you take their lollipops. Sometimes, I think we just have to live with them as they are hungry for recognition, especially with the centuries of humiliation they experienced.
Yashad Rizvi I’m having fun too ! These Chinese or Wumao, as you said, react violently like kids when you take their lollipops. Sometimes, I think we just have to live with them as they are hungry for recognition, especially with the centuries of humiliation they experienced.