Japanese ships to help fight piracy

Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden is still a matter of grave concern due to the techniques used by pirate boats to attack ships passing through the region, Rear Adm. Hidetoshi Fuchinoue, commander of a Japanese training squadron, said at a news conference aboard the Japanese training ship the ‘Kashima.’
The Japanese training squadron is currently on a four-day goodwill training exercise with the Saudi Navy and the three training ships are anchored at Jeddah Islamic Port.
Fuchinoue stressed that Japanese naval forces along with the Saudi Navy will maintain a strong presence in the area to monitor piracy.
“Japan is currently coordinating with the Joint Forces in the African Horn and we are partnering with Malaysia to establish a regional center to fight piracy and reinforce protection of international navigation through the Gulf of Aden,” he said.
Fuchinoue also told Arab News the presence of the training squadron in the Red sea is not related to the ongoing situation in the Gulf. "Following our visit here we will navigate the Suez Canal on our way to visit Turkey.”