New Japanese defence policy focuses on China

• Japan needs to focus on the rise of China and not the Cold War threat of Russia in defining its security goals, according to new defence guidelines announced.
• The guidelines, which were approved by the Cabinet, also call for a stronger alliance with the U.S. - Japan's biggest ally - and expanded security networks with regional partners, including South Korea and Australia.
• To bolster its forces, Japan will acquire new submarines and fighter jets, upgrade its missile defence capabilities and make its ground forces more mobile so that they can quickly respond to emergencies in southwest Japan.
• The guidelines paint China as a bigger threat than Russia and say Japan is shifting its defence emphasis from the northern island of Hokkaido to islands in the south, such as Okinawa and territories claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing that have recently led to diplomatic tensions.
• The Japan-U.S. alliance remains "indispensable" to Japan's security, the guideline said, calling for stronger cooperation between Japanese and the 47,000 U.S. armed forces based in this country. It also urged Japan to use its diplomatic and defence capabilities "more proactively."
• Washington has urged Japan to play a greater security role in the region, and proposed a three-way military alliance that would include South Korea.