Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Japan rattles its sabre or rather its samurai sword. Putting on a show of force at an annual
military display in Funabashi. The theme was quite pointedly island defence for the second
year in a row, as tensions continue with the Chinese over a disputed group of islets in
the East China Sea. Earlier Beijing sending three of its ships into what Japan considers
its territorial waters, the first such move this year. Which is why Japan feels it needs
to show its military muscle. Elite paratroopers from the 1st Airborne Brigade among 1600 members
of the country's Self Defence Force showing off their moves under the watchful eye of
Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.
We can never overlook China's repeated entries into our territorial waters. In addition to
diplomatic efforts, we will cooperate with the Coast Guard to securely defend our territory
and waters around the Senkaku islands.
A point not lost on spectators who came out to watch the action.
We have to get properly prepared or China will just think we're weak and can take advantage
of us. If that happens, they'll pounce on us straight away.
Ties between the two countries have become strained due to the long-running row over
who owns the group of tiny islands. Tensions soared in recent months after Beijing announced
an air defence identification zone which covered a large swathe of the East China Sea.