The US brought the most modern means to Japan to hunt Chinese submarines

The US Navy implies this change in policy in Asia because of any danger to the island of Taiwan (China) would also pose a risk to Japan’s security, according to the article by Nikkei Asia.

China has repeatedly talked about its intention to reunify with the island of Taiwan.

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier group has just conducted a drill in the waters east of Taiwan island (China) and south of Japan. According to US reports, the Chinese group of ships has come very close to Japan.

Meanwhile, the US dispatched the most modern destroyers, with anti-submarine helicopter hangars to protect the border areas of ally Japan and improve deterrence.

In March of this year, the US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted torpedo drills in Tokyo Bay. The MH-60R helicopter dropped torpedoes into the Sea of ​​Japan to simulate a submarine attack.

This exercise attracts a lot of attention, because previous similar exercises have only been held in the waters off the US city of San Diego.

The recent exercise, which comes as the US Navy is quietly changing its ship’s layout in Japan, moving newer and more powerful ships closer to the Taiwan Strait, represents a shift in mission priorities, according to the report. ‘s post Nikkei Asia.

The increased US military exercises with its two allies, Japan and the US, and continued freedom of navigation patrols, angers China.

Beijing said it had just sent out forces to track and warn a US warship passing through the Taiwan Strait.

Some earlier reports said that the US was not prepared for a full-blown conflict with China in the region due to lack of logistics. Therefore, changing the naval presence in Japan could be a step to fill the gap in US preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region.

The newer ships that are about to be sent to Japan are expected to be multi-role ships, while the older ships are mainly strong in missile defense to deal with North Korea.

The new US ships can deal with Chinese jets and submarines, anti-ship cruise missiles, while still being able to deal with ballistic missiles.

Four of the new destroyers to be sent to Japan are the Flight IIA, which has a hangar for the MH-60R submarine hunting helicopter, which has just participated in torpedo drills.

The MH-60R can detect, track and destroy all types of underwater threats with its sonar launchers, radar, torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. This is the main weapon to hunt enemy submarines.

Taiwan (China) recently said that it could not afford to buy the US MH-60R Sea Hawk submarine hunting helicopter. Therefore, the US sending this vehicle to Japan may be the next option to deal with China.

“The US Navy’s Flight IIA destroyers will significantly expand the range and capabilities of anti-submarine warfare across the Indo-Pacific, with the ability to deploy helicopters to areas beyond the range. Helicopter activity comes from land,” Lieutenant Mark Langfold, 7th Fleet’s deputy public relations officer, told Nikkei Asia.