The purchase of stealth fighters for Japan Air Self Defense will be discussed during Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister's visit to the United States on February, reports our sister newspaper, Want Daily.
Abe stressed that the Defense Plan Outline and Mid-term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015) approved by Yoshihiko Noda, his predecessor, will both be revised. Under his new direction, the structure of the self defense force will be expanded.
After his meeting with Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, on Jan. 18, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese foreign minister returned to Japan to arrange Abe's visit to the US on Feb. 20. Abe plans to sign a contract worth US$1.3 billion to purchase four fifth generation fighter jets from the US. The contract will also give Japan license to assemble those four stealth fighters domestically.
A statement in the China's military publication People's Liberation Army Daily on Jan. 20 encouraged soldiers, sailors and airmen to prepare for a potential war in the near future.While praising the outstanding performance of the Chinese military personnel in the various exercises that took place last year, the commentary also warned them grow docile in times of peace.
General Wei Wenhao, the head of Beijing Military Region's Military Training Department, stated that peace has softened the minds of the Chinese soldiers for too long. PLA soldiers must be ready to fight and win in actual combat.
There are only two options remaining for the PLA, according to the commentary. The first option is to be ready for war; the second option is to fight a war. This is a direct order given by Xi Jinping, China's general secretary, during his visit to the Guangzhou Military Region last December.
Apparently, Chinese political and military leaders are showing their determination to wrest the sovereignty of the disputed Diaoyutai (Diaoyu or Senkaku) islands from any claimants, including Japan. The disputed territory was nationalized by Tokyo on September of 2012.
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