China SHOCKED by Japan's BRILLIANT Move

Summary

2024年5月に、日本の防衛省は中国海軍の数艘が横浜の海軍基地近くにいたことを報告。中国の諜報船「天權星」を含む艦隊は、フィリピン海から東シナ海に進む。日本は自国の艦艇を出動させ、中国艦艇を基地から遠ざける。近年、日本は中国の海洋進出を抑制するために、自国の海軍力を強化し、米韓との協力を深める。日本の海軍は新鋭艦艇の建造や無人戦闘武器の開発を進め、国防予算を増やしている。これにより、中国の挑発に対抗する準備が整っている。

Takeaways

• 🗓️ 2024年5月9日、日本の防衛省は米国に報告し公開した報告書で、中国海軍の数艘の船が横浜の海上自衛隊基地近くに検出されたと発表しました。
• 🚢 中国の船隊には、天权星という中国の海軍監視船と054A型の常州号、056型の栾号という戦艦が含まれており、これらの船はフィリピン海を通じて東シナ海に進入し、日本とアメリカが共有する基地に近づきました。
• 🛡️ 日本は自国の船を出動させ、中国海軍を遮断し、中国の海洋進出を遅らせるための一連の大胆な措置を講じています。
• 🔍 3隻の中国の船は、インド太平洋での海軍演習を終えた後、中国本土への帰り路上にあり、それぞれの船が日本にとって脅威となる可能性があります。
• 🛰️ 特に天权星は情報収集に特化した船で、複数のレーダードームを備え、通信やミサイルのテレメトリー信号を分析することができます。
• 💥 054A型と056型の戦艦は、それぞれ異なるサイズと武装を持ち、中国海軍の諜報収集活動を守るために使用されます。
• ✈️ 日本は中国の船に対抗するために、沖島型の水雷戦艦や朝霧型の駆逐艦、P-3C海洋哨戒機などを出動させました。
• 🌏 中国海軍の日本領海への侵入は、2024年に急増しており、日本の防衛省はこれに対処するために積極的な対応を行っています。
• 🤝 日本はアメリカや韓国などとの協力を強化し、共同で海洋防衛能力を高めることで、中国の脅威に対抗しています。
• 💰 日本は防衛予算を増やし、新しい艦艇の建造や兵器の購入、南西諸島の防衛強化に注力しています。
• 🚀 日本は独自の新しい多目的フリゲートや無人戦闘兵器、新しい対潜ミサイルや対空ミサイルの開発を進めています。

Q & A

2024年5月9日に日本の防衛省が公開した報告書で何が明らかになったでしょうか？

日本の防衛省は、海上自衛隊が横浜の海軍基地近くに数隻の中国海軍艦艇を検知したことを報告しました。その中には、天權星という中国の海軍監視船や054A型の常州艦、056型の鸞艦などがあります。

中国の艦艇が日本の近海を通過する理由は何ですか？

中国は日本の近海を通過することによって、日本の海軍基地近くに接近し、機密通信を遮断するなどの諜報活動を行っている可能性があります。

日本の自衛隊はどのようにして中国の艦艇に対処しましたか？

日本の自衛隊は自国の艦艇を出動させ、中国の艦艇を基地から国際水域に誘導しました。特に、クロシマ型のクロシマ艦とアサギリ型のヤマイガリ艦が対応しました。

日本の自衛隊が使用したP-3C海洋巡査機にはどのような特徴がありますか？

P-3Cは対潜戦闘機ですが、AGM-65F MaverickやAGM-84K SLAM-ERミサイル、AGM-84 Harpoon兵器など、水上艦艇にもダメージを与えられる武装を持っています。

中国の海軍艦艇が日本の領海に侵入する頻度はどのくらいですか？

2021年に日本は中国やロシアの軍艦に対して67回の領海内での遮断を行い、2022年にはその数が倍増し132回に達しました。2023年は133回となり、2024年にはさらに増え続けています。

日本の自衛隊が中国の艦艇に対処する際の戦略は何ですか？

日本の自衛隊は中国の艦艇が領海に侵入するたびに対応する艦艇を出動させ、中国の艦艇を観察しながら、必要であれば軍事反応を示す準備をしています。

日本はどのようにして中国の海軍を抑制しようとしていますか？

日本は新しい艦艇の建造、無人戦闘兵器の開発、新しい対潜ミサイルや対空ミサイルの研究開発、情報収集機の導入など、海軍力を強化する一連の措置をとっています。

日本の防衛予算はどのように変化していますか？

2023年8月に日本の防衛省は2024年の防衛予算として7.7兆円の要求を出し、実際には7.95兆円が承認されました。これは中国や北朝鮮の脅威への直接的な対応です。

日本の自衛隊が新たに導入するAegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV)にはどのような特徴がありますか？

ASEVは623フィート長で12,000トンの排水量を持ち、MK-45 127mm砲、SM-6ミサイル、アメリカ製Tomahawkクルーズミサイルを装備しています。

日本はどのようにして中国との緊張を管理していますか？

日本は中国の挑発に勇敢に対応し、海軍を強化することで、中国の脅威に立ち向かう準備をしています。また、アメリカや韓国などと協力して、共同防衛戦略を築いています。

日本の海軍強化の最終的目標は何ですか？

日本の海軍強化の最終的目標は、中国との緊張が緊張から緩和へ、そして万が一の軍事衝突に備えて、より強固な海軍を保有することです。

Outlines

00:00

🚢 中国船団の接近と日本の対応

2024年5月9日に日本の防衛省は、中国の数隻の船が横浜の海軍基地近くにいたことを報告しました。その中には、中国海軍の偵察船であるType 815G「天权星」やType 054A「常州号」とType 056「栾号」という戦艦が含まれており、これらの船はフィリピン海を通じて東シナ海に向かっていました。これに対して、日本は自国の船を出して中国海軍を遮断し、中国の海洋進出を遅らせるための一連の強硬な措置を講じています。

05:04

🛰️ 中国の諜報船と戦艦の能力

Type 815Gは、通信やミサイルの電波を解析できる諜報収集能力を持つ船であり、その背後にはヘリコプター甲板があります。Type 054Aは440フィートの長さを持ち、垂直発射システムや反艦ミサイル、76mm砲、CIWSなどの多種多様な武装を備えています。Type 056は、291フィートの長さで25ノットの速力を持ち、短距離の防空ミサイルや対艦ミサイル、76mm砲、3連装魚雷発射管を備えています。これらの船は日本の領海内に侵入し、日本の船がこれらを遮断して国際水域に戻すことに成功しました。

10:08

🔍 中国海軍の領海侵入と日本の警戒

中国海軍は日本の水域への侵入を繰り返し行っており、2024年に特に増えています。USNIニュースウェブサイトによると、中国は日本の領海内に無人航空機や偵察機を送り、ロシアと共同で偵察活動を行っている可能性もあります。中国の艦隊は日本の島の近海を航行しており、これは日本の排他的経済水域(EEZ)に侵入していることを意味します。日本はこれらの行動に対抗するために、自国の艦隊を強化し、中国の艦隊が日本水域内を航行するたびにそれに対応しています。

15:11

🤝 日本と同盟国の海軍強化協力

日本の海軍は、アメリカ合衆国と韓国との協力を強化することで、中国の脅威に対抗しています。2023年8月に発表された3か国間の防衛協力強化協定により、共同訓練や情報共有が行われています。これらの協力関係は、日本が独自の海軍力を強化する一方で、同盟国と協力して中国の挑発に対処する戦略の一部となっています。

20:16

⚔️ 日本海軍の独自強化と予算拡大

日本の海軍は独自の強化にも力を入れており、2024年の防衛予算は過去最大規模に達しました。新しい多用途フリゲートや無人戦闘兵器、新しい対潜ミサイルや艦対空ミサイルの開発、情報収集機の開発など、日本は独自の海軍力を強化し、中国との緊張を高める中、独自の防衛能力を維持することを意図しています。

🏹 日本の海軍強化と中国との緊張

日本の海軍は中国の挑発に勇敢に対応し、独自の海軍力を強化しています。中国は日本の領海への侵入を続けるでしょうが、日本の対応は勇敢で、中国の挑発に屈服しないことを示しています。日本はこれらの緊張が高まることを認識しており、万が一緊張が爆発した場合でも備えています。

Keywords

💡海上自衛隊

海上自衛隊とは、日本国の自衛隊の一つであり、海上での防衛任務を担う組織です。このビデオでは、日本の海上自衛隊が中国の艦艇を検知し、それに対応したという出来事が語られています。例えば、「日本は自国の船を出して中国海軍を遮断し、中国の艦艇を基地から国際水域に戻すことを強制しました」と説明されています。

💡中国海軍

中国海軍、または中国の人民解放軍海軍（PLAN）は、中国の海軍軍事組織であり、このビデオでは、日本の近海に接近し、日本の領海内に入り込んでいることが示されています。例えば、「中国の艦艇は日本の近海に接近し、日本の基地からあまり遠くない場所を通過しました」と説明されています。

💡艦艇

艦艇とは、軍艦やその他の軍事用船の総称であり、ビデオでは中国の艦艇が日本の基地近くを通過したと報告されています。例えば、「中国の艦艇は日本の基地からあまり遠くない場所を通過した」と説明されています。

💡Type 815G

Type 815Gは、中国海軍の監視船のクラスであり、ビデオではその船が日本の基地近くに接近したと報告されています。例えば、「Type 815Gという名前の天权星が、中国海軍の監視船として提唱されています」と説明されています。

💡Type 054A

Type 054Aは、中国海軍の戦艦クラスであり、ビデオではその船が日本の基地近くを通過したと報告されています。例えば、「Type 054Aの常州号という戦艦が、中国の艦艇の1つとして提唱されています」と説明されています。

💡Type 056

Type 056は、中国海軍の小型戦艦クラスであり、ビデオではその船が日本の基地近くを通過したと報告されています。例えば、「Type 056の栾号という小型戦艦が、中国の艦艇の1つとして提唱されています」と説明されています。

💡領海

領海とは、国家の主権下にある海域であり、ビデオでは中国の艦艇が日本の領海内に入り込んだと報告されています。例えば、「中国の艦艇は日本の領海内に入り込んだ」と説明されています。

💡排他的経済水域

排他的経済水域（EEZ）とは、沿岸国が200ナウティカルマイル以内の海域に対して主張できる経済的権利を持つ領域であり、ビデオでは中国の艦艇が日本のEEZ内に入り込んだと報告されています。例えば、「中国の艦艇は日本のEEZ内に入り込んだ」と説明されています。

💡軍艦

軍艦とは、軍用目的で建造された大型の船であり、ビデオでは中国の軍艦が日本の基地近くを通過したと報告されています。例えば、「中国の軍艦は日本の基地からあまり遠くない場所を通過した」と説明されています。

💡艦載機

艦載機とは、航空母舰やその他の軍艦に搭載され、その艦から離着陸する軍用航空機であり、ビデオでは中国の艦艇が艦載機を搭載していると報告されています。例えば、「その艦艇はKA-28またはZ-19キャリアヘリコプターに適したヘリコプター着陸位置を持っています」と説明されています。

Highlights

2024年5月9日，日本防卫省发布报告，称其海上自卫队在横须贺海军基地附近发现数艘中国船只。

中国船只包括815G型侦察船“天权星”号和两艘战舰054A型“常州”号及056型“栾”号。

日本和美国共享的海军基地附近，中国船只的接近引起了日本的警觉。

日本近年来采取了一系列大胆措施，以减缓北京的海上野心。

日本派出自己的船只拦截中国海军，这是日本对北京海上野心的直接回应。

中国815G型侦察船具备长达50天的海上自持力，装备有直升机起降平台和多种雷达天线。

054A型战舰携带有32单元垂直发射系统，能够发射中国HQ-16中程防空导弹或YU-8鱼雷。

056型战舰虽然火力较弱，但作为支援角色仍具有重大威胁。

日本迅速响应，派遣舰艇引导中国船只离开日本领海，返回国际水域。

日本与美国和韩国加强三边合作，以增强防御协作和信息共享。

日本和美国讨论加强指挥控制合作，以提高互操作性和战备状态。

日本海军力量的增强，包括新舰艇的委托建造和无人作战武器的开发。

日本2024年的国防预算请求达到创纪录的7.7万亿日元，约合527亿美元。

日本海军计划建造配备宙斯盾系统的舰艇，以加强其导弹防御系统。

日本通过加强海军力量和国际合作，准备应对中国海军的挑衅和潜在冲突。

Transcripts

May 9, 2024 – Japan’s Defense Ministry releases  a report, which it makes available to the United  

States, claiming that its Maritime Self-Defense  Force detected the presence of several Chinese  

ships near Yokosuka Naval Base. Those ships included a Type 815G named  

Tianquanxing – a Chinese naval surveillance vessel  – in addition to a pair of warships – the Type  

054A Changzhou and the Type 056 Luan. All were  traveling together, following a route that took  

them through the Philippine Sea, into the East  China Sea, and far too close to comfort to a naval  

base that Japan and the United States share. Japan had to respond.  

And it did so by sending out ships of its own to  intercept the Chinese navy, marking one of several  

bold moves that Japan has been taking in recent  years to slow down Beijing’s maritime ambitions.  

What are those moves? That’s the question we’ll explore in this video  

as we examine what Japan is doing to stop the  Chinese navy from dominating the Indo-Pacific.  

First, let’s come back to our  story of the interception.  

Newsweek reports that the three Chinese ships were  likely on their way back to China after completing  

naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific. Each could  represent a threat to Japan. Take the Type 815G  

as an example. Built by Hudong Shipyard, the  ship was first deployed into the South China  

Sea Fleet in 2010 and is 131 feet long by about  23 feet wide. It’s highlighted by a main tower,  

above which lies facilities for navigation and,  crucially, observation. The ship is capable of  

traveling at up to 21 knots – which is about  the same speed as a large landing shop – and  

can stay at sea for about 50 days before  needing to return to port. At its rear lies  

a helicopter landing position that’s suitable  for either a KA-28 or Z-19 carrier helicopter.  

Beyond that, little is known about  the ship besides the fact that it  

exists to gather intelligence. It houses an array of radar domes,  

which are visible from its deck and contain  antennas capable of analyzing communications  

and missile telemetry signals. In other words,  it’s the perfect ship for China to use if it  

wants to get close to a naval base so it  can intercept classified communication.  

Then, there are the two warships  that accompanied the spying vessel.  

The Type 054A is just under 440 feet long  and is capable of traveling at speeds up to  

28 knots. It features a flight deck, which  includes a hangar for a single helicopter,  

as well as several radar and sonar units. But  perhaps the most notable thing about it is the  

sheer volume of munitions it carries. Sea Forces  Online reports that the ship is home to a H/AKJ-16  

vertical launching system containing 32  cells, which can be loaded with China’s  

HQ-16 medium-range anti-air missiles or its YU-8  torpedoes. Add to that eight box launchers capable  

of firing YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, a 76mm gun,  and four 30mm close-in weapon systems, or CIWS,  

and you get a ship that packs a serious punch. A punch strong enough to protect a spy  

ship while it’s gathering information. The Type 056 is a little less powerful.  

It’s a 291-foot-long ship capable of traveling at  25 knots, and it contains a flight deck for a Z-9  

helicopter. The ship has an eight-cell launcher  from which it can fire short-range HQ-10 anti-air  

missiles, along with a pair of two-cell tube  launchers that fire the same YJ-83 anti-ship  

missiles found on the Type 054A. Add to that  a 76mm gun, a pair of triple torpedo tubes,  

and two 30mm CIWS and you get a ship that packs  less firepower than the Type 054A, but can still  

be a major threat when used in a supporting role. All three of these ships passed within  

Japan’s territorial waters, moving  through its southwestern islands,  

in May 2024. Japan’s response was almost  immediate. Newsweek reports that it ran  

an interception operation to essentially guide  the Chinese ships away from the base and back  

into international waters. These included the JS  Kuroshima, which is a Sugashima-class minesweeper,  

which was deployed because it’s capable  of keeping pace with the Type 815G.  

To tackle China’s more powerful ships, Japan sent  out the JS Yamagiri, which is an Asagiri-class  

destroyer. Sea Forces says this ship is somewhat  equivalent to the Type 054A, at least in terms  

of size, as it measures about 450 feet long and is  capable of moving at a top speed of 30 knots. Like  

the Type 054A, it has a flight deck and hangar  that can house a helicopter – in this case,  

the SH-60J/K Seahawk – and it’s loaded with  an array of dangerous weapons systems.  

These include a pair of Mk. 141 missile  launchers, which fire RGM-84 harpoons,  

and a Mk. 29 missile launcher equipped  with eight RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air  

missiles. An Oto-Melara 76mm gun offers a  good counter to the Type 054A’s own 76mm gun,  

with the MK 16 launcher built into the ship also  giving it anti-submarine capabilities. Finally,  

later models of the ship come equipped with a pair  of Mk. 15 Phalanx CIWS – a rapid-fire weapon that  

can rattle off up to 4,500 rounds per minute. A fair match for China’s warships.  

And that ship was backed by a P-3C maritime  patrol aircraft. Though technically considered  

an anti-submarine warfare craft, the P-3C is  still equipped with AGM-65F Maverick and AGM-84K  

SLAM-ER missiles – both more than capable  of causing damage to surfaced ships. Add its  

AGM-84 Harpoon weapons, along with a collection  of torpedoes, mines, rockets, and depth charges  

and the plane gave Japan an aerial advantage  should China’s trio of ships choose to attack.  

Thankfully, no attack came. China’s ships left Japan’s waters  

under the surveillance of Japan’s two ships  and aircraft, with a tense situation ultimately  

resolving itself somewhat peacefully. Except, there’s a problem.  

This incursion into Japanese waters was far from  a one-off for the Chinese navy. It was no mistake  

and Japan’s bold response was warranted  because China has been pulling stunts like  

these for years, and these patrols into Japanese  territory have only been intensifying in 2024.  

That’s according to both Newsweek and the U.S.  Naval Institute’s, or USNI’s, news website.  

In early April 2024, a month before the May  interception, the USNI noted several instances  

of ships from China’s People’s Liberation Army  Navy, or PLAN, sailing through the waters between  

Japan and Taiwan. And it wasn’t just ships –  China has also been sending unmanned aerial  

vehicles and surveillance aircraft over the  waters, as well as potentially allying with  

Russia to conduct surveillance. USNI even has a timeline.  

Between March 25, and March 27, 2024, the PLAN  destroyer CNS Changchun accompanied a frigate  

named CMS Changzhou as they sailed within 93 miles  of Miyako Island. That distance matters. According  

to international maritime law, a counter is  allowed to claim an exclusive economic zone,  

or EEZ, extending up to 200 nautical miles beyond  its coastline. Once that EEZ is established,  

the country has full jurisdiction over  everything – living and non-living – within it,  

meaning it has full control over which  ships can and can’t sail through it.  

China coming within 93 miles of a Japanese island  meant it was moving through Japanese territory  

without Japan’s permission. And the PLAN kept on  pushing its luck. Between March 27 and March 28,  

the ships proceeded to sail north, passing  between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan,  

before moving to within 50 miles of Uotsori  Island. Though officially owned by Japan,  

both China and Taiwan claim ownership of the  island, with the PLAN’s move likely being to  

intimidate Japan by showing that China is keeping  an eye on territory it believes it should own.  

Again, Japan shadowed the ships, sending  out a DE-234 destroyer and several maritime  

patrol aircraft to keep an eye on China. While all of this was happening, March 25  

also saw the Chinese Shupang-class survey ship Mao  Yisheng move within 25 miles of Yonaguni Island,  

again meaning it had entered Japanese waters.  Japan also tracked a Y-9 electronic surveillance  

aircraft, a WZ-7 unmanned air vehicle, or UAV,  and journeys by the CNS Huainan destroyer,  

CNS Daqing frigate, and a fleet  oil tanker called CNS Kekexilihu,  

all of which sailed or flew into or over  Japanese waters over the course of the week  

leading up to April 2, 2024. Add to that  the Kareliya, a Russian intelligence ship,  

which was spotted sailing 31 miles southwest of  Oshakujima and you have the constant breaking  

of maritime protocol by two countries that  appear to be attempting to intimidate Japan.  

In other words, the Chinese ships that sailed  near the southwestern islands were just the  

latest in a long line of PLAN ships that have  been breaking maritime law by sailing too close to  

Japan. There’s a clear pattern here, and it’s  one that has been on the rise since 2021.  

According to Newsweek, that year saw Japan’s  Maritime Self-Defense Forces intercept Chinese  

or Russian military vessels in its territorial  waters 67 times. The following year, that number  

more than doubled, rising to 132. China and  Russia kept their incursions stable in 2023,  

though they rose by one to lead to 133  interceptions. And it’s clear from USNI’s  

breakdown of a single week between March and April  2024 that the PLAN has no plans to slow down. CNN  

builds upon this. In May 2024, it reported  that Chinese Coast Guard ships have spent a  

record-breaking 158 consecutive days sailing  in the waters that surround several Japanese  

islands in the East China Sea. These islands,  which Japan calls Senkakus, are uninhabited but  

carry the potential to become catalysts for  rising tensions between the two countries.  

Interestingly, China isn’t breaking  any maritime laws in this instance.  

Its ships are sailing in the contiguous zone  around these islands, which extend another 12  

nautical miles from Japan’s official territorial  waters. Sailing in those zones isn’t illegal,  

even for military ships. However, maintaining  a continued presence within them, as China has  

been doing for over 150 days, is considered  an unnecessary provocation. Of course, China  

will claim otherwise. As with many other scraps  of Japanese territory, such as the previously  

mentioned Uotsori Island, China believes these  uninhabited islands should be its territory.  

Regardless, China is sending a message to  Japan with all of these naval incursions:  

It’s watching. Perhaps even testing its boundaries  or attempting to incite it into a military  

response beyond merely shadowing China’s ships  until they leave Japanese waters. But so far,  

Japan has played a clever game of sending  its ships out to greet those operated by  

the PLAN without actively attacking them.  The message is clear – the PLAN may be  

trying to watch or intimidate Japan in their  own waters, but they can show them that they  

have the naval might to fight back if needed. All of which brings us to another question.  

What else is Japan doing  to stop the Chinese navy?  

We already know that it’s sending out ships  to directly respond to PLAN incursions into  

its territory. That sees Japan engaging  in something of a tit-for-tat battle with  

China where it’s attempting to one-up its  aggressive neighbor with its ships. If China  

sends a destroyer into Japanese waters, Japan  will send one out to greet it, often with an  

aerial accompaniment to send a message to China  that it has the advantage in its own territory.  

But beyond these responses, Japan is taking  active steps to bolster its naval strength  

so that it’s ready to fight against  China if the need calls for it.  

Take its growing alliance with a pair  of other naval powers as an example.  

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense  published a press release in which it claimed to  

be strengthening its defensive ties with Japan  and South Korea. This trilateral agreement had  

been a long time in the making – both Japan and  South Korea were bilateral allies to the U.S.  

before – with the three-way agreement marking a  new way in which the nations could work together.  

As part of the agreement, the three nations  promised to enhance their defensive collaboration,  

which includes carrying out multidomain military  exercises with one another. Information sharing  

is also a key part of the agreement, which  is great for Japan as it benefits from its  

partners’ knowledge about China, North Korea,  and general activities within the Indo-Pacific.  

This trilateral agreement has already  started to bear fruit for Japan.  

It’s started to run regular training operations  with its new partners. One of the most recent,  

conducted in April 2024, saw it take part in  a two-way exercise led by the USS Theodore  

Roosevelt. Japan sent a warship to the drill, with  South Korea sending guided missile destroyers to  

accompany the American ships. Crucially, the  drill took place in disputed waters – all spent  

two days working together in the East China  Sea. The drills were followed by meetings  

between the three countries and leaders of  the Philippines, which is another country  

that is wary of increasing Chinese aggression  and territorial claims within its waters.  

Japan’s partnership with  the U.S. runs even deeper.  

In March 2024, Al Jazeera published  a report quoting Japanese government  

spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi’s claims that Japan  and the U.S. are discussing ways to increase  

collaboration and integration between their  militaries. Speaking to reporters, he said:  

“Japan and the United States have  been discussing ways to strengthen  

cooperations in command and control in order  to enhance interoperability and readiness.”  

These comments came during the build-up  to a summit attended by U.S. President  

Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister  Fumio Kishida. According to Al Jazeera,  

that summit involved plans to enact the  biggest upgrade to the security alliance  

Japan shares with the United States since the two  nations signed a mutual defense treaty in 1960.  

Why does all of this matter? It shows that Japan is taking  

China’s threatening actions in and around its  territorial waters seriously. So seriously,  

in fact, that it’s looking to do anything it can  to bolster its own naval threat to show China that  

Japan isn’t afraid of what it’s doing. These  collaborative decisions are important because  

the simple fact is that Japan’s navy likely  wouldn’t defeat China in a straight-up fight.  

According to Global Firepower, which ranks 145  military countries annually using its PwrIndex  

scoring system, Japan has the 21st strongest  navy in the world based on pure fleet strength.  

That amounts to 155 naval assets, including 23  submarines, 36 destroyers, and 22 mine warfare  

vessels. However, China has Japan beaten in every  respect. Global Firepower says it has the world’s  

second-strongest navy due to the PLAN controlling  730 vessels. That strength is debatable – you  

could argue the U.S. has a stronger navy due to  its ships displacing more than twice the water of  

China’s vessels – but the asset count alone is  enough to put China well ahead of Japan. China  

has 61 submarines to Japan’s 23, as well as 13  more destroyers, far larger fleets of frigates  

and corvettes, and 14 more mine warfare vessels.  China also has a pair of aircraft carriers – ideal  

for bringing a large portion of its 1,207  fighter aircraft into a naval war scenario.  

Simply put, Japan isn’t as strong as China. So, the cooperative agreements it’s forming  

with other nations, particularly the U.S. and  South Korea, allow it to supplement its naval  

strength so it can present more of a threat to  China. Beijing knows that launching an attack  

on Japan means it’s also attacking South Korea  and the U.S., as well as further upsetting the  

balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. It won’t make the first move.  

That may be why it’s trying to provoke Japan  by sailing so many ships in Japan’s territorial  

waters. Japan’s response is intelligent and  measured. Rather than attacking, it sends  

ships out to observe all while working on building  partnerships in the background that will help it  

to stand up for itself if China ever does attack. It’s a similar collective defense strategy as that  

employed by NATO, showcasing how Japan  can strengthen through collaboration.  

Still, that doesn’t mean Japan is willing to let  its navy grind to a standstill because it believes  

it will be defended by stronger countries if  China attacks. It’s also boosting its naval  

strength so it can put up a far better  fight if it’s left to face China alone.  

For instance, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense  Force has started commissioning more new ships.  

In April 2022, USNI News reported that  Japan’s navy had commissioned the JS Kumano,  

which is the first in what will become a fleet  of the country’s new Mogami-class multi-role  

frigates. These frigates are 436 feet long  and capable of traveling at speeds in excess  

of 30 knots. In many ways, it’s similar to  the Asagiri-class destroyer Japan sent out  

to meet China’s trio of ships in May. The Mogami  class also has a flight deck and hangar capable  

of landing a Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopter.  Plus, its weapons loadout is impressive.  

The highlight is the ship’s 16-cell Mk.41  vertical launching system, which fires Type  

03 surface-to-air missiles. An MK-145 127mm gun  means it has a stronger gun than either of the two  

Chinese warships that encroached on Japanese  territory in May. Plus, it’s equipped with a  

pair of missile launchers that fire Type 17 SSM-2  anti-ship missiles – another great defense against  

China’s ships. Add torpedo tubes – which fire Type  12 torpedoes – and an MK-15 Mod.31 SeaRAM CIWS and  

you get an impressive frigate that’s as capable of  fighting aerial threats as it is seaborne ones.  

It can also handle submarines. USNI News says the Mogari-class is also  

equipped with towed array sonar and variable depth  sonar, which make it suitable for anti-submarine  

missions. It can even lay mines if needed. But perhaps even more importantly,  

you get a ship that’s representative of  Japan’s desire to invest in its navy.  

More news of strengthening came in 2023 courtesy  of China Military. Though the source is obviously  

China-centric, suggesting there may be a hint  of bias in its reporting, it still notes that  

Japan’s navy is looking to strengthen further  by building several unmanned combat weapons,  

including amphibious armored vehicles and  multi-purpose unmanned vessels. Japan is  

also supposedly developing new anti-torpedo and  ship-to-air missiles, likely intending to load  

both into its new multi-role frigates, as well as  working on new intelligence-gathering aircraft.  

Again, this is a marked turnaround for a  nation that typically focuses its military  

rhetoric on defense ahead of offense.  For instance, an intelligence-gathering  

aircraft would be far more useful flying over  Chinese waters to gather information than it  

would be patrolling Japan’s coast. It’s also a turnaround that’s backed  

by Japan breaking its record in  terms of its military budget.  

In August 2023, Reuters reported that Japan’s  defense ministry had requested 7.7 trillion  

yen – approximately $52.7 billion – for its 2024  defense budget. The plan is part of a wider effort  

to boost defense spending up to 2% of Japan’s  gross domestic product between now and 2027,  

with Reuters noting that it’s also clearly a  direct response to Chinese and North Korean  

aggression. The 2024 budget proposal alone would  represent a 13% increase on the 2023 budget,  

with almost a trillion yen being added. The Japanese navy was heavily  

considered in this budget request. About 900 billion yen would go toward  

weapons and ammunition purchases, with a focus  on air-defense missiles that can be deployed from  

ships. Another 600 billion yen would be dedicated  to bolstering Japan’s defenses along its southwest  

island chains, which are the very chains that  China’s trio of ships sailed among in May 2024.  

The budget request was granted. In fact, as USNI News reports, Japan’s  

defense ministry exceeded its target for 2024 as  it was granted 7.95 trillion yen – approximately  

$55.9 billion – toward the end of December 2023. Japan’s navy is already putting  

that money to good use. Naval News reports that $2.59 billion  

of that budget will go toward the construction of  a pair of Aegis System Equipped Vessels, or ASEVs,  

which the country aims to make the cornerstone of  its missile defense system. Each of these ships  

will be 623 feet long and capable of displacing  12,000 tons of water. That makes the ASEV 1.7  

times larger than the new Flight III Arleigh  Burke-class missile destroyer commissioned  

by the U.S. Navy. The ships will require 240  crewmembers to operate and will be loaded with  

an MK-45 127mm gun, SM-6 missiles, and a weapon  system capable of firing American Tomahawk cruise  

missiles. An anti-drone laser system will also be  retrofitted into the new ships starting in 2032.  

So, where does all of this leave Japan in  terms of its conflict with the Chinese navy?  

Simply put, the country’s navy is taking a  series of bold moves to react to increasing  

Chinese aggression. Every Chinese incursion  into its territorial waters is being met with  

Japanese vessels that are capable of  fighting the Chinese ships if they’re  

pushed beyond their observational roles. As  Japan asserts its control over its territory,  

it’s also working alongside the United States  and South Korea to enhance its naval defenses.  

All three countries are running semi-regular  drills, occasionally in disputed waters,  

that show Japan is as capable of threatening  China as China is of trying to intimidate Japan.  

Finally, there are clear signs that Japan is  strengthening its navy. Its military budget,  

though still only around a fifth of China’s $236.1  billion 2024 budget, has reached record-breaking  

levels. Plus, Japan is commissioning new and  dangerous ships, all of which are intended  

to bolster its defenses while making its  navy a more respectable attacking force.  

China certainly won’t be running  scared in the wake of these moves.  

It will continue to antagonize and provoke with  its incursions into Japanese waters. However,  

it will also take note of the fact that Japan  is responding bravely by strengthening and  

showing that it won’t be cowed by Chinese  aggression. Tensions will rise. Japan aims  

to be ready if those tensions boil over. Will all of this be enough for Japan’s  

navy to overcome China’s if a war breaks out?  Let us know what you think in the comments,  

both about Japan strengthening its  navy and the increasing cooperation  

between it and the United States. Now go check out Japan Shocks China by  

Revealing 5 Never-Before-Seen Weapons  or click this other video instead!