Koizumi set to dub China a military threat

[dArKeR]

China is expected to be described as a military threat in a Japanese defense review which could form the basis of Tokyo's long-term defense plan, reports said yesterday.

A private advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi plans to mention, in a report to be completed by the end of this month, the threat stemming from China's military build-up and fears of a military clash with Taiwan, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said.

Wary of raising the hackles of its powerful neighbor, up to now Japan has not so far explicitly referred to nuclear-armed China as a military threat in any published official document.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/09/16/2003203071

What about republicans?

[amandabeech]

1. Might this result in an expansion of Japan's self-defense force?

It will take more ships and planes to defend that possible natural gas field against Chinese incursion.

Also, might this, together with the increasing nuclear threat from N. Korea, increase the possibility that Japan may secretly develop nuclear capability or at least create uncertainty about development? Surely the U.S. will not object for the same reason that the U.S. does not object to Israel's capabilities.

[oldhat]

2. Reputation of Taipai Times?

Does the Taipai Times have a reputation as supporting Taiwanese independence or does it support "one-state" policy? Anyone know?