Beijing to monitor Tokyo's defense policy overhaul

Beijing will closely track changes to Tokyo's defense policy, the Ministry of National Defense told China Daily on Monday, responding to Tokyo's plan to allow the prime minister to deploy armed forces in case foreign military vessels enter waters claimed by Japan.

Japan's Nikkei Business Daily newspaper reported on Monday that the Japanese cabinet plans to push legislation in January that would change the country's defense policies. One provision to be introduced is that if military vessels of a foreign country enter Japan's so-called territorial sea and refuse to leave, the Japanese prime minister will be authorized to dispatch Japan's Self-Defense Forces to respond.

Japanese media speculated that the policy update is aimed at China's People's Liberation Army and the East China Sea situation.

"We have taken notice of the relevant report, and will continue to monitor the development of the Japanese side," the information office of the ministry said in a statement.

"Due to history-related reasons, the words and actions of the Japanese side regarding the military and security fields deserve high attention from all the Asia-Pacific countries as well as the international community," the office said.