UK aircraft carrier visits Japan for drill amid China worry

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi has welcomed the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it makes its first Japanese port call

TOKYO -- Japan's defense minister on Monday welcomed the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it made its first Japanese port call, saying the involvement of European nations in the Indo-Pacific region is key to peace and stability as China's military strength and influence grow. Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi met the strike group's commander, Commodore Steve Moorhouse, on board the carrier. The ship arrived at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka near Tokyo on Saturday. Japan is seeking to expand its military cooperation beyond its traditional alliance with the United States as China's navy expands and increasingly presses its territorial claims. The Queen Elizabeth participated in a joint exercise with warships from the United States, the Netherlands, Canada and Japan before arriving in Yokosuka. The exercise was part of efforts to achieve a “free and open Indo-Pacific” vision led by Washington and Tokyo.