Japan's largest carrier visits Vietnam amid China expansionism in South China Sea
This is the second time the largest flattop helicopter carrier arrives in Vietnam`s Cam Ranh military port.
Japan’s first-of-class JS Izumo helicopter carrier and Murasame destroyer have arrived at Vietnam’s strategic Cam Ranh International Port, highlighting the continued military links between Japan and Vietnam as part of their extensive strategic partnership. 
JS Izumo helicopter carrier and Murasame destroyer in Cam Ranh port on June 14. Photo: VGP
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The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships with 600 crew members on board will stay in Vietnam from June 14 to 17.
The visit to the key port near the disputed Spratly and the Parcel island chains in the South China Sea comes amid growing defense cooperation between Tokyo and Hanoi. It also aims to aid in deterring China’s continued militarization of the waterway, the Japan Times reported.
The visit is part of the carrier and destroyer’s Indo-Pacific deployment this year from April 30 to July 10, including joint military exercises with the US, India, and the Philippines in the South China Sea earlier this month, the Japan Times cited the Japanese Defense Ministry.
This is JS Izumo’s second visit to Cam Ranh Bay, home to a naval maintenance and logistics facility. The first visit in May 2017 was to participate in the US-led Pacific Partnership (PP17) mission, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness exercise conducted in the Asia-Pacific region hosted by Vietnam.
The Izumo carrier group consists of the Murasame-class destroyers, JS Murasame and JS Akebone, as well as five military aircraft. The helicopter carrier JS Izumo is the lead ship of the Izumo-class, according to The Diplomat.
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