Japan has a second helicopter carrier after Izumo

Japan's second-largest helicopter carrier, the Kaga, has entered service, giving the country's military greater ability to deploy farther from its shores as Tokyo tries to push back against China's growing influence in Asia.

Helicopter carrier Kaga at the handover ceremony in Yokohama city on March 22 (Photo: Reuters)

According to Reuters, commanders of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force have just received the handover of the 248-meter-long ship at the Japan Marine United shipyard in Yokohama city, near Tokyo, where the Kaga is anchored next to its sister ship, the Izumo.

“China is seeking to make changes in the South China Sea with bases and through actions that increase pressure to change the status quo, causing security concerns in the international community,” Japanese Vice Defense Minister Takayuki Kobayashi said at the ship’s acceptance ceremony, attended by about 500 people.

Kaga is Japan's second Izumo-class helicopter carrier (Photo: Reuters)

In 2015, Japan commissioned the helicopter carrier Izumo, the first ship of the Izumo class and Japan's largest warship.

Japan's two largest warships since World War II are the most potent symbols of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to give the military a greater international role. The Izumo and Kaga are designated helicopter destroyers to comply with constitutional restrictions that forbid the possession of offensive weapons.

In its biggest show of naval power in international waters in more than 70 years, Japan plans to send the Izumo on a three-month tour through the South China Sea in May, unnamed sources told Reuters earlier.

Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at the Kaga ship reception ceremony (Photo: Reuters)

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in trade passes annually. Beijing’s growing military presence in the vital waterway has raised concerns in Tokyo and Washington. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam all have claims in the South China Sea. Japan has no claim there, but is locked in a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea.

The commissioning of the Kaga means that Japan will be able to conduct overseas operations more frequently in the future. The Kaga will be based in the western Japanese city of Kure, home to Japan's most famous World War II battleship, the Yamato. Meanwhile, the Izumo is based in Yokosuka near Tokyo, which is also home to Japan's 7th Fleet aircraft carrier, the Ronald Reagan.

Helicopter carriers Izumo and Kaga (Photo: Reuters)

Japan's helicopter carriers can carry up to nine helicopters. They operate like U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault ships, but lack the decks to launch landing ships and other vessels.

Japan is also adding longer-range patrol aircraft and military aircraft to its defense capabilities, and buying F-35 fighter jets, amphibious assault vehicles, and Osprey transport aircraft, which can operate from the Izumo and Kaga.

According to Dantri