Japan navy's largest ship in PH, will join Indo-Pacific Deployment Exercises 2023

JS Izumo, Japan navy's largest vessel, docked in Manila as it will participate in naval joint exercises with the US, Australia, and the Philippines.

The vessel, a helicopter carrier, docked at Pier 15 at the Manila South Harbor.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) officials toured the media inside the ship on Sunday, according to a report by Dano Tingcungco on Unang Balita on Monday.

JS Izumo has two built-in elevators going to the flat deck with five helicopters. The deck also has the capacity to allow F35 Bravo fighter jets to land.

"JS Izumo, this ship, is the biggest ship in the JMSDF of Japan navy. That is why we call this ship as the flagship, flagship of the JMSDF," JS Izumo Executive Officer Commander Naoki Shirasaka told reporters.

Members of media were shown the vessel's navigation room and control tower.

Because JS Izumo can allow the operation of five helicopters at the same time, it can be used for disaster response.

"We can dispatch this type of ship and we can conduct flight operations to conduct search and rescue, as well as some transportation for the personnel, or staff, some materials, for the first aid," Shirasaka said.

JS Izumo will be in the country until August 31.

It will join the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD) Exercises 2023, a five-month-long operation to be participated in by the naval forces of the US, Australia, and the Philippines.

Its activities are in line with the free and open Indo-Pacific policy.

"We, the JMSDF, is continuing to conduct various activities in this region to realize the vision of free and open Indo-Pacific," Vice Admiral Saito Akira, commander-in-chief of the JMSDF Self-Defense Fleet, told reporters. —KG, GMA Integrated News