Japan needs to boost its military with a “sense of urgency and crisis”, its defence minister said on Tuesday, as a new government assessment reiterated growing risks posed by China, North Korea, and Russia.

In the Asia-Pacific, “not only are China and North Korea further strengthening their military capabilities, China-Russia and Russia-North Korea are also reinforcing their cooperation”, he added.

Koizumi also said that he [also seeks to] increase security cooperation with the Philippines, Australia, and South Korea to realise a “a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

“In order to do so Japan will build and expand multilayered networks among allies and like-minded countries, and enhance interconnectivity with like-minded countries and others in every area.”

Military experts expect it to call for further spending increases aimed primarily at deterring China from starting a conflict with Taiwan that could also draw Japan into a prolonged war.

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  • NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
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    6 days ago

    I’m sure glad we’re doing this as a species instead of doing anything at all to mitigate the climate crisis to try to survive this century.