Japan accuses China over security in bid to expand military role

Japan emphasised China as a threat in escalating regional tensions as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government tries to convince the public of the need to give the nation’s military a greater role.

This year’s annual defence report has now been approved by the cabinet after it was delayed for more than a week as Mr Abe’s ruling party demanded mention of additional examples of China’s “one-sided” maritime activities, such as undersea gas and oil development in the East China Sea.