Britain's Strength 'Important To Stabilise Use Of World's Oceans'

The Japan Training Squadron Commander says it is important "to strengthen the relationship with the UK".

Britain’s strength and influence is important to stabilise the use of the world’s oceans, Japan’s Training Squadron Commander has said.

JS Kashima, Japan’s training ship, docked in Portsmouth this weekend as part of a round-the-world training cruise.

Kashima and a second ship, destroyer JS Makinami, have been in Portsmouth since Saturday.

The pair will now continue across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal and onwards home to Japan, meaning they will have travelled a total of 31,000 miles since 21 May.

Rear Admiral Hiroyuki Izumi, Japan Training Squadron Commander, talked about the importance of UK-Japan relations:

"I think the UK has a strong influence over the world so I think it is important for us to strengthen the relationship with the UK to stabilise the use of the oceans around the globe."

JS Kashima is built with the purpose of training newly commissioned officers.

Four Royal Naval Cadets joined the ship’s last leg.

Captain Bill Oliphant, Captain of Portsmouth Naval Base, said: “The Royal Navy and the Japanese navy have worked together for many years, but with the tensions in South East Asia... these ties... are extremely important.

"Opportunities to work together, to understand each other and to operate together are always taken up."

While the two navies are based on opposite sides of the world, Captain Elephant says their policies are similar.

JS Kashima, Japan's training ship, will leave Portsmouth later on Tuesday to continue its round the world training cruise.