Confrontation -" armed conflict and in the worst case war -" is precisely what is being prepared for and which may be precipitated by Washington's consolidation of the tripartite military alliance.
The National Defense Program Guidelines for 2011 adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Defense last month identified its major regional concerns as follows:
"North Korea's nuclear and missile issues are immediate and grave destabilizing factors to the regional security.
"Military modernization by China and its insufficient transparency are of concern for the regional and global community.
"Russia's military activities are increasingly robust." [12]
According to the Japanese press, Tokyo's new military strategy has shifted to "a posture that can effectively deal with possible contingencies on Japan's vulnerable southern islands and China's growing military presence." [13]
An appendix to the guidelines details plans to increase the nation's submarines from 16 to 22, acquire next-generation fighter jets and add to the number of Aegis class destroyers equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles from the present four. [14] (South Korea has recently awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to outfit another of its warships with Aegis missile defense technology. The third such destroyer is to be sea-ready next month.)
Japan will then equip all its six Aegis destroyers with Standard Missile-3 interceptors, and "Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles will be deployed at air bases nationwide," [15] including those at Aibano, Ashiya, Gifu, Hakusan, Hamamatsu, Iruma, Kasuga, Kasumigaura, Narashino, Takaradai, Takeyama and Tsuiki.
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