U.S. worried by Japan's aggressive overhaul of defense policies

The United States has expressed concern about Japan's desire to acquire the ability to attack enemy bases.

The move by Japan comes in an overhaul of defense policies pursued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A government source said one of the American officials attending bilateral talks on foreign and defense policy cooperation late last month in Tokyo asked Japan to consider the possible negative fallout on neighboring countries if the Abe administration embarks on such a policy shift.

According to the Japan Times, the U.S. official conveyed Washington's message that Tokyo should not further worsen already strained relations with China and South Korea.

At the working-level talks on July 25, Japanese officials briefed their American counterparts on the interim report.

The U.S. officials called for further explanation on what countries and measures Japan is considering while seeking to acquire the ability to strike enemy targets, the source said. (ANI)

According to the report, the U.S. also said that Japan must carefully work to obtain understanding for the policy from neighboring countries, and the Japanese officials replied they will make efforts to that end, the source said.