Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Japan plans to give the go ahead for a new amphibious military unit and deploy surveillance drones as part of a new defense plan to counter China's growing military power.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the new plans will be "historic", adding:
"As the security environment surrounding our country is increasingly getting severe, the Abe cabinet has been working on restructuring defense and security policy with our determination to protect the lives and property of people of Japan under any circumstances. At its core, I am certain that the National Security Strategy which we studied with you and new defense guidelines will be historical documents which will shape the direction of our nation's defense and security."
Abe has come under abuse from some in Japan, including an adviser, about his militaristic focus. Critics say they would prefer he follow the pacifist foreign policy path Japan has followed since the end of World War II.
"Japan's accusations and hyping of the China threat have an ulterior motive," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday. "We urge Japan to follow the historical trend, walk on the path of peaceful development and make due efforts to improve ties."
South Korea has reportedly already beefed up their defense in response to China's growing military might. Japan and China have recently had disputes over the ownership of a few uninhabited islets in the Pacific Ocean and military action has not been ruled out of the question by either side.
[VOA]
[ABC]
