According to Japanese media reports, starting on May 3, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched a fleet of ships for the first time, including two Izumo-class quasi-aircraft carriers, to carry out a seven-month joint exercise and visit in the Indo-Pacific waters, and the operation will end on December 15. This is regarded as the "largest overseas deployment" of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to date, and has attracted widespread attention.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's operation is codenamed "Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024". Among the participating forces were six surface ships, including the two quasi-aircraft carriers "Izumo" and "Kaga", the destroyers "Haguro" and "Ariake", the amphibious landing ship "Kunisaki" and the frigate "Noshiro". In addition, an unknown number of conventional submarines and two P-1 maritime patrol aircraft accompanied the voyage. By contrast, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has typically deployed one Izumo-class ship for four to five months when it has been deployed in the Asia-Pacific region.
The troop composition of Japan's large-scale overseas operation basically includes the composition of ships of ordinary aircraft carrier formations, which can be called the "prototype of an aircraft carrier task force." It has two quasi-aircraft carriers as the core of the formation, one landing ship is responsible for carrying out amphibious assault operations, one destroyer is responsible for formation air defense, one destroyer and one frigate are responsible for anti-submarine operations, and conventional submarines are used as underwater cover forces.
Limited by the "Peace Constitution", Japan's two Izumo-class ships were initially commissioned as helicopter-only amphibious assault ships, but they were designed to retain the potential to be converted into aircraft carriers. In 2018, the Japanese government revised the "National Defense Program Outline" and other documents to create conditions for the conversion of two Izumo-class ships into aircraft carriers. At present, both ships have completed the first phase of refit, each with the ability to carry about 10 American-made F-35B fighters, and transform into "quasi-aircraft carriers".
Among the escort ships dispatched by Japan this time, the "Haguro" is the No. 2 ship of the Maya-class of Japan's new air defense "Aegis" warship, with a full load displacement of more than 10,000 tons, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, and the main surface ships of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The "Ariake" was the youngest of the nine Murayu-class destroyers that were commissioned in the late 90s of the 20 th century and were in charge of anti-submarine missions. The "Nengdai" is the most advanced frigate newly launched in recent years, which can perform reconnaissance and surveillance, anti-submarine escort and short-range air defense tasks, with a full load displacement of about 5,500 tons and a large room for upgrading. It is widely predicted in the media that the companion submarine is likely to be the Canglong-class or the newer Big Whale class, which is designed to conduct real-world combat performance tests in the ocean-going deployment state.
There are deep strategic considerations
Japan's dispatch of its capital ships to conduct long-term overseas deployments reflects the importance it attaches to this operation. According to the plan of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, these ships will form four maritime battle groups to visit the United States, the Philippines, Australia, India and a number of Pacific island countries, and participate in the 2024 multinational joint exercises held in the regions they pass by, including the "Malala" exercise in French Polynesia, the "Kakadu" exercise led by Australia, the "Rim of the Pacific" and "Pacific Dragon" exercises led by the United States, and the "Malabar" exercise jointly led by the United States and India.
In response to the U.S. "Indo-Pacific Strategy", get rid of the shackles of the "post-war system". In the face of the U.S. regional strategy, which focuses on reshaping the alliance system, Japan has demonstrated an attitude of participation and cooperation through this investment of forces, and can then rely on a strengthened version of the U.S.-Japan alliance to deepen cooperation with U.S. regional allies. Japan is trying to increase the acceptance of Japan's "normalization" in the military field by all parties concerned through its participation in overseas military activities, especially the increasing number of joint exercises, and to accumulate "connections" for it to continue to break through the restrictions of the "peace constitution".
Follow and cooperate with the U.S. Navy to improve combat capabilities as soon as possible. According to reports, the main part of the exercise of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships on this voyage was to "coordinate operations" with the US Navy. In view of the fact that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force still lacks practical experience in the operation of modern aircraft carriers, and the F-35B fighter jets are not yet in place, joint operations with the US military will help it quickly accumulate experience. In addition, according to the scheduled plan, "Kaga" will go to the east coast of the United States in November this year to conduct "integration tests" with F-35B fighters. Before receiving carrier-based aircraft, Japan conducted training in advance to coordinate aircraft carriers, subordinate ships, and even warships of allied countries, with the aim of shortening the handover time of carrier-based aircraft and enabling the aircraft carrier formation to quickly form combat effectiveness.
The Japanese government has stated that the overseas deployment is aimed at "enhancing Japan's joint combat capabilities with regional allies and promoting regional peace and stability." In fact, Japan's move is a microcosm of its accelerated intensification of military operations overseas. This further reflects that Japan is expanding its network of military partnerships by establishing a mechanism for regular consultations and linkages, signing bilateral and multilateral military agreements, and participating in joint military exercises, thus paving the way for its strategic attempt to break through the principle of "exclusive defense."
As a "prelude" to this move, in mid-April, Japan announced in a high-profile manner that it would send "special security units" to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time to support its coast guard agencies in establishing capabilities such as boarding and inspection. This is far beyond what Japan needs to defend, and its real intention is to deeply enter the situation and even disrupt regional security cooperation. This extremely offensive voyage of the "twin aircraft carrier" formation is bound to fuel Japan's ambitions, and in the future its military offensive momentum may become even more prominent, and it will become more and more emboldened in the building and use of offensive military forces.
Behind Japan's moves, there is a shadow of the United States' connivance and acquiescence and even adding fuel to the fire. The United States is sparing no effort to pursue the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and lay out "great power competition" with strong confrontational colors, and Japan's "closeness" will undoubtedly further escalate regional tensions and bring new destabilizing factors to regional peace. Judging from the history of modern times, every time Japan expands its military strength, it brings wars and disasters to its neighbors. Japan's increasingly frequent overseas military activities will seriously threaten regional security and deserve a high degree of vigilance from the international community.
In this regard, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said that China is open to the development of normal military cooperation with any country, but resolutely opposes the cobbling together of exclusive "small circles" by relevant countries, resolutely opposes any bilateral or multilateral military alliance against China, and resolutely opposes creating separatism and confrontation and engaging in bloc confrontation. The Asia-Pacific region is a big stage for peaceful development and should not become an arena for geopolitical games, and China is a partner of cooperation among all countries, not a challenge from any country.
Due to historical and practical reasons, Japan's military security trends have always attracted the attention of its Asian neighbors and the international community. The Japanese side should deeply draw lessons from history and be cautious in its words and deeds in the field of military security. Other countries should also earnestly fulfill their international obligations and refrain from doing anything that undermines regional and world peace and stability.