JS SENDAI conducted a Japan-New Zealand bilateral exercise.

JS SENDAI conducted a Japan-New Zealand bilateral exercise with Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS AOTEAROA in the East China Sea.
New Zealand is Japan’s important partner to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law, and we are working together through various opportunities, such as monitoring and surveillance activities against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean vessels.
The Commanding officer of JS SENDAI, CDR YODA Masahiko said, “Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and strengthened cooperation with the Royal New Zealand Navy. We also contributed to maintaining the rules-based international order by demonstrating our opposition to attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the waters surrounding our country in order to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
The Self Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies.