Asia Pacific Issues

1. The National Defence Programme Guideline has been approved by the cabinet and will shape Japan’s defence policy for the next 10 years
2. Japan is changing its defence policy in response to the shifting balance of power in Asia.
3. The guidelines say Japan is concerned by China’s growing military spending, modernisation of its armed forces, and increased naval assertiveness in the East China and South China seas.
4. Relations between Japan and China deteriorated sharply in September, after collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japanese patrol boats near a chain of disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Armed forces                   Japan                    China
Submarines                            18                          9
Destroyers                             41                         27
Fighters                                  310                  1,320
Battle tanks                            876                 9,840
Active personnel          237,000        2,255,000
Source: IHS Jane’s

1. The review paper added that it was necessary to reduce the burden on communities hosting US bases, including Okinawa.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12015362

Exhibition – Palestine & Iraq: End the Agony V

Source: Citizen International