 "Army")
Beijing has predictably opposed Japan’s adoption of a new defence policy on Tuesday that abandons almost three quarters of a century of self-imposed military restraint.
In a game changing decision, Tokyo has substantially raised defence expenditure over the next five years, and decided to convert its two Izumo-class helicopter carriers into full-fledged aircraft carriers that will embark cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.
Japan is poised to become the world’s largest operator of F-35s outside the US. Its original order of 42 F-35A fighters has already begun deploying in Japanese air self-defence force (JASDF) bases.
On Tuesday, Japan’s new national
