It is very easy to say so long as it is paid by someone else.
Main items for the next mid-term defense plan references the NATO 2% requirement. It is a generally suggestion that the many year long 1% GDP level is going to end at the start of the next mid-term defense plan. 2% defense budget for Japan makes it bigger than Russia's FYI.
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
06 July 2018
View attachment 484659
Japan will send one of its two Izumo-class helicopter carriers on a two month-long tour of the South China Sea and Indian Ocean for the second straight year as the country aims to bolster international co-operation in safeguarding key sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region, a Japanese official told
Jane’s on 6 June.
Starting in September JS
Kaga (DDH 184) will make stops in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines and at ports in India and Sri Lanka. The ship will also make a port call at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base at around the same time as the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the 5th ADMM-Plus meeting are scheduled to be held there (18-20 October).
“This is part of Japan’s efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy,” the official said. “For maritime security Japan is focusing on capacity building assistance to Southeast Asia and on what we call ‘strategic messaging,’ which appeals to the rule of law for securing free and open seas,” the official added.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sent out
Kaga ’s sister ship, JS
Izumo (DDH 183), on a similar tour last year.
http://www.janes.com/article/81571/japan-to-despatch-helicopter-carrier-to-south-china-sea
JS Kaga might not make it to Vietnam but it will be a first for Indonesia. Although JS Izumo did visit Vietnam last year as I'm sure is remembered.
https://tuoitrenews.vn/politics/41085/us-japan-naval-vessels-visit-vietnams-cam-ranh-port-for-pp17
On mentioning of Indonesia, Japan will cooperate with them on Indonesian islands in the South China Sea. Probably a safe bet that Japanese investment funds won't have to compete with Chinese ones here.
---start---
JAKARTA (Kyodo) -- Japan said Monday it will provide 2.5 billion yen ($23 million) in grant aid to Indonesia for the development of fishery facilities on remote islands, at a time when China's clout in the region is increasing.
The signing of a document on the aid was witnessed by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, who discussed issues ranging from economic cooperation and maritime security to antiterrorism measures.
The assistance, which is part of Tokyo's efforts to promote its "free and open Indo-Pacific strategy," will be used to build ports and fishery facilities by January 2020 on Indonesia's six outer islands, according to a Japanese official.
The islands include Natuna on the southern edge of the South China Sea, where Chinese and other foreign fishing vessels continue to operate illegally.
The six islands do not have sufficient cooling and freezing facilities for sea produce and the aid is designed to improve their infrastructure and economic activity, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.
"We will increase our maritime cooperation. This is very meaningful for the strategies of both countries," Kono said in a joint press statement with Retno.
With the two countries marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, Kono also said Tokyo will help Jakarta develop infrastructure and improve its business environment.
Not just aiming to draw more Japanese investment to Indonesia, he said the two countries are trying to expand the level of people-to-people exchanges to 1 million from both sides by promoting tourism further.
Another major topic for the two foreign ministers was North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Un committed "to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" when he met U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.
"We reaffirmed our commitment to the strict implementation of the U.N. Security Council's resolutions and to press North Korea for complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges," Kono said.
"Indonesia and Japan are not just strategic partners. We are also two important strategic countries in the region," Retno said. "Our partnership contributes not only to the prosperity to the people of Indonesia and Japan, but also to regional peace, stability and prosperity."
Ahead of holding talks with her, Kono, who visited Indonesia as part of a weeklong South Asian tour, met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
---end---
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/In...aid-development-of-Indonesia-s-remote-islands
Shameful dispray!
China will need to fly more h6 bombers with weapons within range of their homeland.
H-6s can't fly recklessly like SU-30 models so F-15Js won't have to worry about reckless pilots. Enjoy the flight.
When a country was already a Supa Powa by 2012, why is there a need to progress.
Super Powa 2012 is like an old joke beaten to death. Yawn.
