Source: Reuters
By Nobuhiro Kubo
Japan will send a large helicopter carrier to the South China Sea and Indian Ocean for a second straight year as it looks to bolster its presence in the strategic maritime region with annual tours, two Japanese officials said.
“This is part Japan’s efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said one of the officials, who has direct knowledge of the plan for a two-month tour beginning in September.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-southchinasea-exclusive/exclusive-japanese-helicopter-carrier-to-tour-south-china-sea-indian-ocean-for-two-months-idUSKBN1JU0CJ