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Japan to revise 5-year defence plan ahead of schedule, eyeing China
- The Medium Term Defence Programme could be updated within the year, as Japan seeks to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness in surrounding waters
- The revision would seek to fulfil Suga’s promise to Biden to bolster Japan’s defence capabilities to maintain security in the Indo-Pacific region
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Japan plans to revise its Medium Term Defence Programme earlier than originally scheduled as it looks to boost spending to counter China’s growing assertiveness in surrounding waters and prepare for contingencies in the Taiwan Strait, government sources said Friday.
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The programme, which covers the five years through fiscal 2023, could be updated within the year, with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi having agreed earlier this month that some changes are necessary, the sources said.
Discussions between officials including at the Defence Ministry and the National Security Secretariat are already under way, with budget issues set to be reviewed by the Finance Ministry.
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The revision would seek to fulfil Suga’s promise to US President Joe Biden during their meeting in Washington in April to bolster Japan’s defence capabilities to strengthen the alliance between their countries and maintain security in the Indo-Pacific region.
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China calls Japan ‘irresponsible’ over Tokyo’s ‘sense of crisis’ for Taiwan Strait tensions
China calls Japan ‘irresponsible’ over Tokyo’s ‘sense of crisis’ for Taiwan Strait tensions
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the leaders singled out China for actions that are “inconsistent with the international rules-based order, including the use of economic and other forms of coercion”.
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