Lần đầu tiên hải chiến của Nhật đến cảng Cam Ranh April/2016

Destroyers from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force have visited a strategic Vietnamese naval facility on the South China Sea for the first time.

Cam Ranh Bay is one of Vietnam's most closely guarded naval facilities. Forging closer ties with Japan is seen as a way to strengthen Vietnam's hand in its maritime dispute with China.

Two Japan Self-Defense Forces destroyers entered Cam Ranh Bay, a military fortress in Vietnam on the South China Sea. Japan's first port call there is aimed at deterring China's increasing military activities in the area.

The strategic base is home to several Russian-built Kilo-Class submarines. Foreign ships are rarely allowed to make calls here.

The natural harbor was turned into a base by the United States during the Vietnam War. The Russian military occupied it until 2002.

Vietnam opened a major new port facility here in March, said to include 2 piers big enough for aircraft carriers and submarines.

Last year, the Vietnamese and Japanese defense ministers agreed to hold their first-ever joint naval exercise.

"We made a port call in Vietnam and we plan to conduct drills with the Vietnamese navy to promote friendly ties," said MSDF Capt. Haruhiko Morishita.

"There's no room to criticize any bilateral cooperation as long as it's normal," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang. "But if it targets a third country, it won't serve peace and stability in the region. And if it affects China, we oppose it as a matter of course."

China has reclaimed small islands and reefs and constructed airfields and port facilities. It claims almost all of the South China Sea as its own.

Several ASEAN countries including the Philippines and Vietnam have claims within the same area.

The US has called on China to stop militarizing the waters. US warships have sailed close to disputed islands to demonstrate support for freedom of navigation, drawing criticism from China.

Vietnam's willingness to allow Japan into one of its most closely guarded military facilities reflects its strategy for countering its more powerful neighbor.

Nguồn: NHK