Japan wary of China military, urges closer US ties

The annual defence policy report also said a group of South Korean-controlled islands, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, were an "integral" part of Japanese territory - prompting protesters in South Korea's capital to try to burn a Japanese flag in a show of anger.

The report's release comes amid a growing diplomatic dispute between Japan and China. Beijing has warned Tokyo that bilateral ties could be damaged over the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain whose ship collided with two Japanese patrol vessels Tuesday near disputed islands in the East China Sea.

China has increased its activity in Japanese waters to defend its territory, protect its maritime interests and deter Taiwanese independence, the defence report said.
Highlighting China's increased military spending, it said Beijing's lack of openness in its defence policies and military activities were "a matter of concern for the region and the international community, including Japan, which should require prudent analysis."

It said China has not disclosed specific information about its weapons, procurement goals, details of major units and its national defence budget.China has released defence reports every two years since 1998 but has not yet achieved the level of transparency expected for "a responsible major power in the international society," it said.

China also is developing the technology needed for possessing its own aircraft carrier, it said.The report highlighted the importance of American forces based in Japan under a security pact that marks its 50th anniversary this year, saying they act as a deterrence that contributes to Japan's defence as well as regional security.
In particular, having US forces on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa offers a strategic advantage because of its geographic location, allowing them to respond more quickly to emergencies in East Asia than if they were based in Hawaii, Guam or the US mainland, it said.

However, many residents of the island of Okinawa, which hosts three-quarters of all US military facilities in Japan, want the bases moved off the island.