US ally plans to commission ‘world’s largest’ 14,000-ton destroyer to counter China

Japan is reportedly building its largest AEGIS-equipped destroyer to strengthen ballistic missile defense.

The new ship is expected to displace about 14,500 tons and support integrated air and missile defense operations.

It would improve Japan’s ability to counter missile threats from China and North Korea and assist allied operations.

The buildup underscores rising security competition in the Indo-Pacific and Japan’s naval modernization push.