The new patrol boats will free up Japanese destroyers, such as the Kurama. Photo: Reuters
Japan to build new warships in ‘message to China’ over Diaoyu Islands
- The Japanese defence ministry tells the South China Morning Post it is working on a new class of patrol ship and aims to deploy 12 vessels over the next decade
- The move will free up its destroyers that patrol the Diaoyu/Senkaku archipelago, which is claimed by China
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China-Japan relations
The new patrol boats will free up Japanese destroyers, such as the Kurama. Photo: Reuters
Minamikojima (front), Kitakojima (middle right) and Uotsuri (background) are the tiny islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Photo: AP
Explained: Diaoyu/Senkaku islands dispute
- The island chain, claimed by China, Taiwan and Japan, is made up of five islets and three barren rocks covering an area of 7 square kilometres
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Diaoyu Islands
Minamikojima (front), Kitakojima (middle right) and Uotsuri (background) are the tiny islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Photo: AP