Japan has begun construction work on a military radar station near a string of islands that is at the centre of a territorial dispute with China. <\/p>\n
Correspondents say the move will anger Beijing as it may allow Japan to expand surveillance near the Chinese mainland. <\/p>\n
The new base on Yonaguni island is located just 150km (90 miles) from the Japanese-held Senkaku island group, claimed by China as the Diaoyu islands. <\/p>\n
About 150 personnel are due to be deployed on Yonaguni within two years. <\/p>\n
During a ceremony to mark the start of project, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera suggested his countrys military presence could be extended to other islands in the region. <\/p>\n
This is the first deployment since the US returned Okinawa [in 1972] and calls for us to be more on guard are growing, Mr Onodera told reporters. <\/p>\n
I want to build an operation able to properly defend islands that are part of Japans territory. <\/p>\n
Tensions between Japan and China rose last year, after Beijing imposed an Air Defence Identification Zone above disputed islands in the East China Sea including the Senkakus. <\/p>\n
The move was also condemned by the US. <\/p>\n
Several countries claim competing sovereignty over islands, reefs and shoals in the South China Sea. <\/p>\n
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Japan to build military site near disputed islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Japan has begun construction work on a military radar station near a string of islands that is at the centre of a territorial dispute with China. Correspondents say the move will anger Beijing as it may allow Japan to expand surveillance near the Chinese mainland Continue reading