Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera plans to tell his French counterpart that Japan has strong concerns about France's plan to sell two helicopter carriers to Russia, according to a Japanese government source.

In a move meant to show support for its ally, the United States, Onodera will tell French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who will visit Japan next week, that the sale of amphibious assault ships to Russia "will not be appropriate in view of the international situation" since the recent downing of a Malaysian airliner in Ukraine, the source said.

The Mistral-class warships to be sold to Russia can each carry up to 16 helicopters, four amphibious landing craft and 900 soldiers. Russia plans to deploy one in the Far East, according to the government source.