KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES-SAN: Meet South Korea’s Shiny New ‘Aircraft Carrier.’

Large amphibious assault ships like the Dokdo -class are sometimes referred to as “aircraft carriers in disguise.” This is certainly apt in the case of Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter destroyers. Those ships are roughly 250 meters (820 feet) long and displace 24,000 tons. The Izumos are about 50 percent bigger (in terms of displacement) than Japan’s previously largest ship, the Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer. Others have pointed out that the ships are actually larger than Spain and Italy’s short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft carriers.

While the Dokdos are not quite as big as the Izumos, they might also be considered an aircraft carrier in disguise. That’s because a few months back reports emerged that South Korea is thinking of refitting the vessels to be able to carry the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.

Back in the bad old days of the Cold War, we used to call meaningful procurements by our allies “burden-sharing.” It’s good to see Tokyo and Seoul both getting serious about it — and if China doesn’t like it (Spoiler: They don’t), well, they have no one to blame but themselves.