Japan panel urges strong military amid China rise

To defend territorial claims in areas disputed with China, the government should step up maritime defense, the report says, citing recent Chinese entries into airspace and waters around contested islands in the East China Sea.

The report also says Japan should relax bans on arms exports as a way to step up its international peacekeeping cooperation.

Shinichi Kitaoka, president of the International University of Japan and head of the panel, said members stressed the need to allow the export of “Japan's superb defense equipment,” a move that would please domestic industry but faces opposition from those who favor a more pacifist Japan.

The panel also endorsed the draft revision of Japan's defense guidelines, which set priorities for the next decade and are also expected to be approved by the Cabinet next week.

The draft proposes expanding joint military exercises with the U.S. and surveillance activities to deal with the region's growing territorial disputes.

It also urges Japan to strengthen defense ties with South Korea in three-way cooperation with the U.S., and expand ties with European defense networks.