Japanese warships sail into Wellington for first time in 90 years

Japanese warships docked in New Zealand’s capital of Wellington on Friday for the first time in almost 90 years amid efforts by Tokyo to deepen its strategic ties in the South Pacific Ocean.Two destroyers with more than 500 crew on board sailed into Wellington harbour accompanied by the New Zealand navy ship HMNZS Canterbury. The JS Ise and destroyer JS Suzunami were on an Indo-Pacific deployment and arrived from Sydney, where Japan’s military took part this month in war games involving New Zealand, Australia and other countries.The Wellington visit was a ceremonial one, but it came as Japan, whose only treaty ally is the United States, has increasingly sought to deepen bilateral military cooperation amid ongoing regional tensions.

“Our defence forces are developing cooperative work, not only with New Zealand and Australia but also many Pacific Island countries,” Japan’s envoy to Wellington, Makoto Osawa, told reporters on Friday. “Our main goal is the free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Two ships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, JS Ise and destroyer JS Suzunami, sail into Wellington, New Zealand, to begin a three-day ceremonial port visit on Friday. Photo: Stuff/AP

While officials in Canberra said the Japanese proposal was the best and cheapest, they also hailed it as the biggest defence industry agreement between the countries.