Japan coast guard plans to build its largest patrol vessel

The Japan Coast Guard said Tuesday it plans to make a budget request for funds to construct what would be its largest multipurpose patrol vessel to respond to disasters and evacuate remote island residents in the event of emergencies.It will seek 3.43 billion yen ($23.7 million) in the fiscal 2025 budget as part of the cost of constructing the 200-meter-long vessel at a time when it is strengthening surveillance near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, claimed by China.The request will push up the total funds it is seeking in the budget to a record-high 293.5 bill…READ FULL ARTICLE