JAPAN’S UPGRADED KAGA AIRCRAFT CARRIER STIRS TENSIONS WITH CHINA

NEW DELHI: Japan's recent upgrade of the Kaga aircraft carrier, initially commissioned as a helicopter carrier in 2017 and now modified to host Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, has sparked concerns in China and raised eyebrows globally. This development comes amid Beijing's view that the modifications may breach Japan's "Peace Constitution."

The Kaga, alongside its sister ship Izumo, which was also slated for similar modifications, represents a significant shift in Japan's naval capabilities. By 2027, both vessels will house up to 12 fighters and 16 helicopters. However, this expansion has led to questions about why Japan is increasing its number of planes beyond the current capacity of its navy, a South China Morning Post report said.

China has criticized the transformation of these Izumo-class carriers, suggesting that it contradicts Japan’s constitutional commitment to renouncing war. A spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry highlighted that the constitutional clause is "an important legal guarantee and symbol of Japan’s post-war path towards peaceful development, and a solemn commitment by Japan to the international community."

Despite these concerns, Tokyo maintains that the modifications are strictly for defensive purposes. The Japanese government has reassured that the F-35B fighter jets will not be permanently stationed on the carriers, thus not classifying them as offensive weapons, which are prohibited by Japanese law.

When the upgrade was first announced in 2018, then Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya defended the decision, stating, "the Izumo was originally designed as a multipurpose escort ship, so it wouldn’t pose any threat to other countries if fighter jets are deployed on it."

Professor Yoichiro Sato, from Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University, commented that the Kaga holds fewer fighters compared to China's carriers and serves more effectively as an anti-submarine platform rather than a full-fledged carrier. Furthermore, National Defence News from China has also critiqued the Japanese carriers for their limited independent operational capabilities due to the absence of fixed-wing early warning aircraft.

The naming of the Kaga itself has also been a point of contention, particularly due to its historical associations with Japanese military aggression. Wu Qian, a spokesman for China’s defence ministry, expressed disappointment over the reuse of a name from a ship involved in historical military conflicts, asking, "Is it because they do not want to make a clear break with the history of militarism, or are they deliberately provocative to hurt the feelings of the people of the countries that were victims of World War Two?”

As tensions simmer regarding Japan's naval upgrades and the implications for regional security, both historical grievances and modern strategic considerations continue to influence the dialogue between China and Japan.