Japan plans to effectively upgrade one of its helicopter carriers to enable it to transport and launch fighter jets, the latest draft of its defense guidelines showed Tuesday, in an apparent effort to curtail China's maritime assertiveness in nearby waters.
The ruling parties approved the draft guidelines presented by the government, which said the country will "enable fighter jets to be operated from existing warships, if necessary, to improve the flexibility of their operation."
Specifically, the government is looking to upgrade the DDH-183 Izumo to enhance its air defense capabilities in the Pacific Ocean.