(LinkAsia: August 3, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Over in Japan, the government has released its annual Defense White Paper. Normally, this is just a policy guide to help politicians in making decisions. But this year’s paper has gotten Japan’s neighbors all worked up. That’s because it discusses China’s growing military and the continuing threat of North Korea’s nuclear program. Here's NHK with more details on the report.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: July 31, 2012

Reporter:
Defense officials presented the report Tuesday to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his cabinet. Its main focus is military activity in the region, as it has been in previous years.

The report notes China’s defense budget has increased about 30-fold over the past 24 years. It says the country will likely expand its maritime activities. The report backs up the case by noting the dispatch of Chinese naval vessels in the Pacific Ocean and an increase in what it calls monitoring activities in waters near Japan.

The paper cites North Korea as a continuing threat. It says authorities in the North may be developing nuclear arms with highly rich uranium. And it says they are likely to continue missile tests following a failed rocket launch in April.

The defense report also addresses American foreign policy. Its authors note the shift in US emphasis toward the Asia-Pacific. They say Japan will seek to deepen and develop defense ties in a way that fits the new security environment. The paper also acknowledges the issue of US military facilities in Japan. It says the bases should maintain their deterrent role while reducing the burden on host communities.