Newsletter No. 1434
News-Analysis
August 12, 2009

 

MSDF WARSHIPS TOUR THROUGH BRUNEI

In Shingetsu Newsletter No. 1377 we carried a PanOrient News report on a goodwill tour of three Japanese warships through the Arab Gulf and the Rea Sea. It was noted at the time that the squadron, consisting of the JDS Kashima, the JDS Shimayuki, and the JDS Yugiri, had set off on a 145-day training voyage lasting until September 8th.

The print media in Brunei informs us that the MSDF squadron is now in Southeast Asia, presumably on the last leg of its extended journey before returning home next month.

Yesterday, the JDS Kashima and the JDS Shimayuki were opened up to foreign guests staying in Brunei, including members of the diplomatic community. They were greeted by mission commander Rear Admiral Masao Kawamura as well as Japanese Ambassador in Bandar Seri Begawan Itsuo Hashimoto. The guests were shown the ships’ guns, torpedoes, harpoons, and the SH-60J helicopters, used for rescue and attacking submarines. The foreign diplomats were also treated to a tea ceremony in the Rear Admiral’s room and presented with souvenirs.

One ordinary visitor was James Wong, who brought his children on board. The Brunei Times quoted him as saying, “I just wanted to show [my children] what a warship actually looks like… [My son] really likes this stuff.”

After the visit to Brunei is completed, the ships are heading for neighboring Indonesia.