“This, the first-visit by Japanese naval destroyers since the end of World War II, is historic because the selection of the port of call was made based on extremely strategic factors," the media quoted a Japanese government source.
It is a symbol of the strengthened defence cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, which has been heightened, in part, due to moves being made by China to strengthen its effective control over the waters in the East Sea.
Located in the southern part of the nation, Cam Ranh Bay is close to the Spratly Islands, which are at the centre of a territorial dispute involving China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Earlier, the two destroyers visited a Filipino port at Subic Bay, where they were accompanied by an MSDF submarine.
Japan has increased its presence in the East Sea in response to actions by China. In addition to providing coast guard cutters to the Philippines and Vietnam, Japan has also dispatched P-3C surveillance planes in the skies over the East Sea.
