Japan departs from pacifist stance, plans two aircraft carriers -- 13 July 2003
Perception of North Korean threat may have led to decision
straitstimes.asia1.com.sg
The Japanese navy is preparing to build two small aircraft carriers, its first in more than 60 years, according to Japanese and United States officials.
The plan is further evidence that Japan is departing from its pacifist post-World War II Constitution that restricts its military to self-defence.
The carriers can be deployed as command ships in a task force to give the Maritime Self-Defence Force, as the Japanese navy is called, a modest ability to project power into the sea-lanes that are vital to Japan's trading economy.
That capability is likely to draw protests from China, North Korea and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan during World War II.
Tokyo's decision to go ahead with the aircraft-carrier plan is believed to be prompted by its perception of an immediate threat from North Korea and a longer-term threat from China.....
US to give missiles to Taiwan -- 13 July 2003
news.com.au
The US will deliver 200 advanced air-to-air missiles to Taiwan after it had held them in a US air base for three years to avoid upsetting China, a news report said today.
When it agreed to sell the AIM-120C advanced medium range air-to-air missiles to Taiwan in 2000, Washington decided to hold the weapons in the United States to avoid giving the island air supremacy over China or provoking Beijing into accelerating its pursuit of a similar capability.
Washington recently agreed to turn over the missiles because the Chinese air force has acquired advanced fighter jets and successfully test-fired Russian-built AA-12 air-to-air missiles, posing a greater threat to Taiwan, the semiofficial Central News Agency said.
The AIM-120C missiles, to be carried by US-built F-16 fighter jets, will be shipped to Taiwan in a month or two from the US air base in Guam, the agency quoted unidentified Taiwanese military officials as saying.
Defence Ministry officials could not be immediately reached for comment. |
