The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to accelerate efforts to strengthen defense capabilities in the country¡¯s strategically important Nansei southwestern region, which includes the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa prefecture.
As part of the moves, which reflect China¡¯s growing military activities in waters around the island chain, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited some of the islands Saturday and Sunday, only about a month after taking office.
On Sunday, he went to the island of Yonaguni, the westernmost part of Japan, after visiting the islands of Miyako and Ishigaki the previous day.
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