Japan to boost maritime defense

: Posted On Friday, 23 November 2012 18:10

Naval Forces News - Japan

Japan to boost maritime defense

Japan’s opposition Liberal Democratic Party, tipped to win next month’s general election, has promised to boost spending on maritime defence and ease restraints on the military imposed by its pacifist constitution.

The President of Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Shinzo Abe, has announced the party’s campaign promises for the upcoming general election on December 16th.

These include plans for economic recovery, a nuclear energy strategy and national self-defence.

Abe has said a plan to establish a permanent presence to guard the disputed Diaoyu Islands is under discussion, and policies to regulate fishing around the islands would be drawn up.

He’s also said he wants to change the status of the country’s current Self-Defense Forces to a national defence force, to address a shifting security environment in the Asia Pacific region, which would involve increased maritime defence spending.

Analysts say this is the first move by Japan, since its constitution was enacted in 1947, to claim the right of collective self-defense.

The pinciple of collective self-defence allows allied countries to defend each other by means of military intervention if one comes under military attack.

Observers say such a move may further strain diplomatic ties with Japan’s neighbors, including China and South Korea, with whom Japan is currently involved in territorial disputes.

Source: CCTV.com