Summary

Japan is one of the foremost naval powers of the Asia-Pacific, and being a close US ally, it is also one of the pillars of the region’s security architecture. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) is among the world’s most powerful navies. Today, with China rapidly rising as a maritime power itself, the MSDF is in the middle of a modernization program meant to boost its capabilities and meet an emerging challenge in its own backyard.