Japanese Navy in Arabian Sea by Vijay Sakhuja

Japanese Navy in Arabian Sea

Vijay Sakhuja
Maritime Security Analyst

In a historic move, the Japanese Security Council (which includes Prime Minister Koizumi and other key cabinet members) has approved a plan to dispatch a naval task force to the Indian Ocean under the newly enacted Anti Terrorism Bill. This Bill allows

Japan

to support the

in its war against terrorism in

Afghanistan

. Apparently, the government intends that supply vessels of the Maritime Self Defence Force transport fuel, food and other supplies to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean that serves as a major logistic base for US forces. The warships are expected to operate alongside the

maritime forces in search and rescue operations, maritime interception and intelligence gathering missions. Accordingly, a Japanese naval task force comprising three destroyers (Kurama equipped with three helicopters, Kirisame fitted with missiles and Kongo and Hamana an 8,100 ton fleet tanker) are currently operating in the Arabian Sea alongside the

navy.

Rear Admiral Hirotaka Honda, a senior officer of the Japanese navy, has noted that the mission was the first of the kind and the navy was trained for any contingency. He also noted that by undertaking such a deployment

Japan

was trying to show what it is capable of doing. While offering to participate in the war against terrorism and deployment in the Indian Ocean ,

Japan

is redefining its maritime defensive perimeter, currently restricted to 1000 nautical miles from the coast. The deployment of Japanese navy in the Indian Ocean is open ended and will last as long as there is

pressure in the region.

The counter terrorism proposal comes at a time when there is a growing debate in

Japan

on revising the Constitution. Joint naval operations, once unthinkable, now appear to be increasingly accepted as part of national defence. The changing role clearly reflects the creeping assertiveness of the Japanese navy and a desire to shed its symbolic pacifism. A sophisticated strategy has been developed by the Japanese in which new roles are incorporated in the military strategy. In the past, the Japanese navy has been engaged in mine sweeping operations during the Gulf War 1991, UN Peace Keeping in

Cambodia

and

Mozambique

between 1992 and 1995 and overseas deployment of four vessels in 1958 including flagship Harukaze to Midway Island and Hawaii .

The Japanese navy is a well-trained and technologically sophisticated maritime force. Over the years it has expanded its roles as also its area of operations. Much of these have gone unnoticed by the naval community. In fact it is the most powerful navy in the Asia Pacific region. The Japanese ships now undertake long voyages including training cruises. The new missions like UN Peace Keeping, mine sweeping, escorting merchant vessels, anti piracy operations and counter terrorism clearly indicate the changing mission responsibilities of the Japanese Maritime Forces.

The decision to deploy Self Defence Forces overseas has raised some serious concerns among Japan ’s immediate neighbors who feel that Japan is shedding its pacifist constitution and is heading towards militarization. What is more worrying is the fact that it may not be long before the Japanese Maritime Forces start operating in the Indian Ocean in support of sea lane safety, search and rescue, and addressing problems relating to maritime disorder. These would also culminate into a general acceptance of their role by the regional maritime states; this has been the trend in the past.


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Japanese Navy in Arabian Sea

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