The Japanese government formulated Friday a basic plan governing its maintenance of 148 inhabited offshore islands, apparently eyeing China’s expansionary…
TOKYO —
The Japanese government formulated Friday a basic plan governing its maintenance of 148 inhabited offshore islands, apparently eyeing China’s expansionary activities at sea.
“As a maritime country, we must take long-term, systematic measures to protect, maintain and expand peace, security and our maritime interests,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of the government’s maritime policy task force that approved the plan.
“The situation surrounding our seas is increasing in severity,” he said.
China has overlapping territorial claims with Japan in the East China Sea and has been developing offshore reefs in the South China Sea to the alarm not only of Association of Southeast Asian Nations members but of China’s neighbors.
The plan, based on a law on the protection of the islands that came into force last week, contains provisions to acquire land on the islands to house administrative or port facilities.
