The British navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier “Queen Elizabeth” will be dispatched to the coast of Japan to receive supplies at U.S. military facilities in Japan. In response to the dispatch of the aircraft carriers, the Japanese Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces have welcomed the idea that it will “help strengthen the encirclement network against China,” while on the other hand, opposition voices, mainly from ports of call, may be growing on the grounds that it may increase military tensions.
The U.S. Naval Base Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture is the only base outside of the U.S. where U.S. aircraft carriers are deployed. The amphibious assault ship “America” based at Sasebo Base in Nagasaki Prefecture is equipped with F-35B stealth fighters that are part of the Iwakuni Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the Japanese side has the basis to host British carriers and aircraft.
According to government sources, “Japan is the only place in the Western Pacific that can provide carrier rear support, including carrier-based aircraft, and the British military has to rely on Japan. The U.S.-U.K. alliance is extremely close, and is known as the “special relationship. The UK is allied with Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand in the Pacific Rim, but there is no doubt that the U.S. military will provide generous support for the use of aircraft carriers.
In January 2017, the Japanese and British governments signed the “Agreement on the Mutual Supply of Goods and Services (ACSA),” which provides for the mutual exchange of goods and services, including ammunition, for training and UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) in which the Self-Defense Forces and the British military participate. Joint training is also conducted at the force level at the land, sea and air levels to strengthen security cooperation.
Referring to the “protection of weapons and other protection” that the Self Defense Forces are allowed to provide to other countries’ ships, etc. from time to time under the Act on Security and Safety, a key official of the Self Defense Forces said, “Following the example of the U.S. and Australia, this move may help to spur discussions to include the British military.
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