![]() ![]() The ship's visit is 'an important turning point' in pursuing a 'free and open Indo-Pacific,' said Defense Minister Kishi Officially, though, Tokyo still limits itself to self-defense and has banned first strikes under its post World War II pacifist constitution. Japan has also hiked its defense spending in recent years and now ranks among the world's top 10 military powers, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. With Beijing showing no indication of toning down its aggressiveness toward other governments in the region, Tokyo is working hard to deepen existing security alliances and make new friends. Kishi welcomed the arrival of the 4,400-ton warship in Tokyo, saying, "In the East China Sea and the South China Sea, we see unilateral attempts to change the status quo based on force and these problems are a common concern not only in Asia but also the rest of the world, including Europe." Tokyo deepening security alliances There is also concern about Beijing's attitude toward human rights and the rule of law in the region. That change in strategy reflects broader international concern about China's growing clout and assertiveness in the region, notably in the South China Sea, where Beijing has unilaterally occupied and fortified islands that are claimed by other countries like the Philippines and Vietnam. ![]() ![]() The Bayern left Germany in August on its seven-month deployment ![]()
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