To better patrol the East China Sea , Japan has decided that it needs more warships. Reuters reported Feb. 17 that Japan intends to build two 3,000-ton frigates instead of the single 5,000-ton destroyer planned for this year. The shift toward building less capable but cheaper frigate-type vessels in higher quantity is notable because it reflects Tokyo's growing need to effectively contend with an increasingly powerful Chinese navy. In 2016, for instance, Japan launched a single 5,100-ton Asahi-class destroyer while China launched three 7,500-ton Type 052D destroyers and two 4,000-ton Type 054A frigates, along with several other types of vessels. The Chinese navy is rapidly improving the quality of its naval forces , of which the buildup of its Type 055 heavy destroyers is proof enough. It will also continue to modernize and expand its combat naval forces while increasing its naval force projection .