SASEBO/TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - Japan on Saturday activated its first marine unit since World War Two trained to counter invaders occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo fears are vulnerable to attack by China. "Given the increasingly difficult defence and security situation surrounding Japan, defence of our islands has become a critical mandate," Tomohiro Yamamoto, vice defence minister, said in a speech. In its post World War Two constitution Japan renounced the right to wage war. China, which dominates the South China Sea, is outpacing Japan in defence spending. Its Air Self Defence Force (ASDF) wants to acquire F-35Bs to operate from its Izumo and Ise helicopter carriers, or from islands along the East China Sea, sources have told Reuters.

Source: The Star April 07, 2018 06:56 UTC