Three Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels will make a port call at the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao from Oct. 15 to 19, sources familiar with Japan-China relations said Thursday.

The MSDF will hold exchanges with the Chinese navy’s North China Sea Fleet headquartered in Qingdao, making it the MSDF’s second visit to China since June 2008, the sources said.

The port call, part of bilateral military-to-military exchanges, will involve two training ships, the Kashima and the Yamagiri, and one destroyer, the Sawayuki.

The three vessels will call at Qingdao, located in Shandong Province, during an around-the-world voyage. Along with exchanges with the North China Sea Fleet, the MSDF is planning to invite about 1,000 local residents and hold sporting exchanges, according to the sources.

Editor Yu Meng

Source japantoday.com