Tuesday 6 August 2013 saw the unveiling of the Izumo destroyer in Yokohama, Japan. This is the country’s largest warship since World War II. The destroyer is 249 metres long, weighs an impressive 19,500 tons and has a price tag of R11 billion.

Izumo has been classified as a helicopter destroyer and will not be used as an aircraft carrier according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The launch comes at a time when military tensions between Japan and China are high over islands which lie in the East China Sea. Japanese state broadcaste NHK reported:

The destroyer is aimed at better responding to various contingencies in waters near Japan.

The Chinese Defense Ministry reportedly said:

We are concerned over Japan’s constant expansion of its military equipment. Japan’s Asian neighbors and the international community need to be highly vigilant about this trend.

Japan should learn from history, adhere to its policy of self-defense and abide by its promise to take the road of peaceful development.

[Source: CNN, YouTube]