Japan to provide Vietnam new patrol vessels

Japan will provide Vietnam new patrol vessels, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday on the last stop of his four-nation tour to boost his country’s trade and security engagements in Asia amid China’s rising dominance.

“The two countries will further strengthen security and defense cooperation and this time Japan has decided to provide (Vietnam with) newly built patrol vessels at Vietnam’s request,” Abe said at a news conference in Hanoi with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. “We will strongly support Vietnam’s strengthening its maritime law-enforcement capabilities.”

Vietnam already has six used patrol vessels provided by Japan and how many were in the fresh offer wasn’t mentioned. Both countries have maritime disputes with China Vietnam in the South China Sea.