Japan inists Izumo is not an aircraft carrier, China insists that it is

Japan’s new “flat top destroyer” is not an aircraft carrier… or, at least, that’s what the Japanese government insists.

China, however, sees things differently.

New warship draws fire (China Daily, 7 Aug 2013)

China Warns Asia Over New Japanese Ship (China Digital Times, 7 Aug 2013)

China-Japan views toward each other hit 9-year low (Global Post, 8 Aug 2013)

China warns of Japanese ‘remilitarization’ following the incorporation of a ‘quasi-aircraft carrier’ (Merco Press, 8 Aug 2013)

And naming the vessel “Izumo” seems to have touched a raw historic nerve.

Japan should never forget fate of previous Izumo in war of aggression (CCTV, 8 Aug 2013)