YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) The Maritime Self-Defense Force commissioned on Wednesday its largest helicopter-carrying warship amid concerns its eye-catching flight deck makes it look like a small aircraft carrier.
The acquisition of a combat ship that can project force far from Japan raises concerns in Asia and may even spur rivalry with China, which is rumored to covet an aircraft carrier of its own.
Setting another precedent, the ¥105 billion Hyuga will have female officers and enlisted personnel, the first combat ship to have a mixed-sex complement since the Self-Defense Forces were created in 1954.