U.S. Navy prepares to conduct extensive repairs at Japan shipyards

TOKYO -- A U.S.-Japan working group has been set up to allow U.S. naval vessels to undergo maintenance and repairs at private Japanese shipyards, in a bid to improve readiness and better counter China's military buildup.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel announced the working group, the Ship Repair Council Japan, on Friday. "Keeping U.S. Navy ships in theater and in service strengthens the U.S.-Japan Alliance and our joint deterrence," he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.