Japan to withdraw MSDF from Antarctic mission amid growing security demands

Japan plans to withdraw the Maritime Self-Defense Force from operating its Antarctic research vessel in the early 2030s, transferring responsibility for transporting personnel and supplies to a state-backed marine research agency, as growing security demands and manpower shortages strain the country’s defense forces, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. The MSDF has operated ships for Japan’s Antarctic program since 1965. About 180 personnel currently crew the icebreaker Shirase, which carries researchers and cargo between Japan and Antarctica. But the government has decided the MSDF should end its role in operating the vessel as the security environment around Japan becomes…