Japanese carrier drills with British warship heading to contested South China Sea

Three helicopters from the Japanese carrier hovered above,<br /> monitoring the drill

JAPAN-DEFENCE/BRITAIN: Japan's biggest warship, the Kaga helicopter carrier, joined naval
drills with Britain's HMS Argyll in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday as the frigate headed toward the contested South China Sea and East Asia. Britain, Japan and their close ally the United States have found common cause in countering growing Chinese influence in the region that they worry could put key commercial sea lanes linking Asia with Europe, the United States and elsewhere under Beijing's sway.

 

Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga is silhouetted against the reflection of the sun on the ocean during a joint naval drill with British frigate HMS Argyll and Japanese destroyer Inazuma in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

British frigate HMS Argyll (front), Japanese destroyer Inazuma (C) and Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga take part in a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga (front) Japanese destroyer Inazuma (C) and British frigate HMS Argyll take part in a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

British frigate HMS Argyll (front), Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga (C) and Japanese destroyer Inazuma take part in a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

British frigate HMS Argyll (front), Japanese destroyer Inazuma (L) and Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga take part in a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

An SH-60K Sea Hawk helicopter flies in front of Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga (L) , Japanese destroyer Inazuma (C) and British frigate HMS Argyll taking part in a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

An SH-60K Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of Japanese carrier Kaga is silhouetted against the sky after a joint drill with a British frigate in the Indian Ocean. Reuters

Maintenance crew walk toward an SH-60K Sea Hawk helicopter on Japanese carrier Kaga taking part in a joint naval drill with a British frigate in the Indian Ocean. Reuters