Germany adopted a defense guideline last year focusing on the Indo-Pacific region and has since stepped up its military ties with Japan. Warships from those countries recently conducted joint naval exercises in the East and South China seas. The frigate left Germany in August for deployment in the Indo-Pacific as part of the country's recent shift to the region and follows similar moves by other European countries including Britain, France and the Netherlands. 'It shows Germany's strong commitment to actively contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
The ship's visit is “an important turning point” in pursuing a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and secure one of the world's most important shipping lanes, Kishi said after inspecting the frigate with German officials. The frigate Bayern is visiting Tokyo after two days of joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Samidare in the Pacific Ocean amid increasingly assertive maritime activities by China in the region. Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on Friday said Japan will step up military cooperation with Germany in the Indo-Pacific region as he welcomed a port call by the first German warship to visit Japan in about 20 years.
