Japan commissions biggest warship since World War II

YOKOHAMA, Japan, March 25 (UPI) -- Japan's biggest warship since World War II entered service under the nation's armed forces, signifying the country's continued commitment to strengthening the military under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday the Izumo, a 19,500-ton helicopter carrier, has been commissioned to confront intruding submarines, said Japanese defense minister Gen Nakatani.

In May 2013, the Japanese government said it identified submarines beneath waters near Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures. The nation's pacifist constitution, however, poses limitations on Japan's responses to "grey zone" situations that do not involve an armed attack.

Under Abe, Japan has reinterpreted its constitution to allow it to defend other countries. But the development is adding to already existing friction with China.

On March 16, the Japanese foreign ministry released a map that identified a disputed chain of islands by its Japanese name, a move that was swiftly denounced by Beijing.

But on Saturday, foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea met for their first talks in three years. The BBC reported the meeting in Seoul was designed to ease tensions and discuss solutions to territorial and other disputes.

The Izumo is an 814-foot helicopter carrier that can hold 470 personnel and a maximum of nine helicopters. It is also capable of carrying the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft.

China Daily reported the ship cost about $1 billion to build and could be used to launch fighter jets.

But Nakatani said Japan was not planning to operate the warship as an aircraft carrier.