TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan ramped up its criticism of China’s land reclamation and offshore platforms in disputed seas today in a hastily revised annual defence report.
The 500-page white paper, approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, for the first time includes satellite images of Chinese man-made islands in the South China Sea.
China claims most of the 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mile) South China Sea, with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also staking claims.
Japan has no claim in the South China Sea but is in dispute with China over small islands in the East China Sea.
After hawkish members of Abe’s party complained that the report was too soft on China, the Defense Ministry appended a demand for China to halt construction of platforms in the East China Sea that it began two years ago.
“We have confirmed that China has started construction of new ocean (exploration) platforms and we repeat our opposition to unilateral development by China and call for a halt,” the ministry said.
The paper outlining Japan’s defense posture and perceived threats comes after its lower house of parliament last week passed legislation that for the first time since World War Two would allow Japanese soldiers to fight overseas.
