Japan prepares army to face China

Tokyo, Dec 14: Japan's proposed new military plan will be designed to address the increased threat from China. According to the Washington Post, Japan's National Defense Program Guidelines will be released this month.

The guidelines are expected to de-emphasize the concern about a Russian invasion from the north and instead will call for mobile units to move quickly to any spot where there's a threat, especially in wake of a North Korean attack or a naval clash with China around the southern Nansei Islands.

The guidelines also call for Japan's Special Defense Forces to coordinate more closely with allies, including the United States, Australia and South Korea.

Japan's Asahi newspaper said the new defense guidelines would term North Korea a "major factor for instability" in the region, while Chinese military action would be described as a "concern" for the region and the world.

Details of the realignment, already delayed by a year, have been leaking out since joint military drills this month between Japan and the United States.

Following the Japanese Government is reportedly trying to strengthen its ties with Washington over a diplomatic clash with China three months ago, and concerns about North Korea's nuclear program.

The US sees Japan as its largest and most important Asian ally, and has convinced Tokyo to adopt a more pro-active role in the region.

ANI