Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer Kurama leads the fleet at Sagami Bay off Yokohama Photo: ReutersJapan Announces Defense Policy to Counter China -- New York Times
TOKYO — Japan announced a new defense policy on Friday that will respond to China’s rising military might by building more submarines and other mobile forces capable of defending Japan’s southernmost islands.
The new National Defense Program Guidelines are the biggest step yet in a decade-long shift away from cold war-era deployments of heavy tank and artillery units on the northern island of Hokkaido — to counter a now-vanished Soviet threat — and toward bolstering Japanese forces in the southern islands around Okinawa, where China’s navy has become a growing presence.
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More News On Japan's Changing It's Defense Policy
Japan labels China's military a global concern -- AFP
Japan Refocuses Its Defense With an Eye Toward China -- Wall Street Journal
Japan defense strategy cites China, N. Korea concerns -- CNN
Japan defence review warns of China's military might -- BBC
Japan warning over rise of China military -- BBC
Japan's defence focuses on China -- Press Association
China focus for Japan security -- The Australian
Defense focus shifts from Russia to China -- Japan Times
New Defense Guidelines Focus On China, N Korea -- Nikkei.com
Japan retools military to face China fears -- Financial Times
Worried over China, Japan adopts new defence policy -- Economic Times
Japan moves on from the Cold War -- BBC
Japan drops Cold War defense to face new threats -- Reuters
Japan Shifts Defense Policy to Counter China's Rising Military Influence -- Bloomberg
China criticises Japan's "irresponsible" defence policy -- The Telegraph
China responds to Japan's new defense guidelines, saying it poses no threat to anybody -- Xinhuanet
Beijing says Japan making irresponsible remarks -- Washington Post
China Flays Japan's New Defense Policy -- RTT News
Beijing denies Japanese accusations of military non-transparency -- RIA Novosti
China-Japan relations show signs of improvement -- China.org.cn
FACTBOX-Japan's military: high-tech but untested in battle -- Reuters
A bare-knuckle fight looms as big, new arms race unfolds in Asia-Pacific -- International Business Times
Japan Throws Aside its Pacifist Post WWII Military Doctrine -- Hamsayeh.net