Vietnam has agreed to invite a Japanese warship to visit its strategic Cam Ranh Bay base on the South China Sea and for the two countries to hold their first ever joint naval exercise, Kyodo News reported yesterday. The agreement was reached during a meeting in Hanoi between Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani and his Vietnamese counterpart, Phung Quang Thanh, the news agency said. The visit to the port, which is close to the disputed waters of the Spratly island group where China is building bases on reclaimed islands, my further irritate China After a recent US naval patrol close to the man made outcrops prompted Chinese protests.

Vietnam to host Japan warship; China displeasure seen. (2015, November 7). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A7.