"Japan increases defense spending to protect Senkaku"

According to Japanese media on January 5, for the first time in 11 years, the government of this country is likely to increase defense spending, in the context of new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledging a tougher response to the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute with China.

The Mainichi newspaper reported that the government is considering increasing defense spending by about 2 percent to more than 4.7 trillion yen ($53.4 billion) in fiscal 2013, which starts in April this year. However, the newspaper did not cite a source for the information.

A ship carrying a survey team from the Tokyo government approaches Uotsurijima Island, part of the disputed Senkaku Islands, on September 2. Illustrative photo. (Source: AFP/TTXVN)

The Asahi newspaper also reported that the additional spending would be used to increase the number of personnel in the Ground Self-Defense Force and upgrade equipment for its ground, air and sea forces. It did not specify the source.

According to Reuters, public opinion is now focusing on whether Sino-Japanese relations will improve after voters returned the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to power in December 2012.

New Prime Minister Abe also repeatedly said there was no reason to negotiate over the islands and declared that he would increase defense spending to counter China's growing military influence./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT