Japan's defense white paper for 2024 stresses the need to fundamentally reinforce the country's defense capabilities, citing China's increased military activities and North Korean efforts to ramp up its nuclear and missile programs.
The annual report was presented to a Cabinet meeting on Friday.
The report says China's military activities are reaching beyond the "first island chain" that links Japan's main islands, Okinawa and the Philippines.
It says China is actively expanding to the "second island chain" that encompasses Japan's Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands as well as Guam.
It notes that China is intensifying its efforts to strength coordination with Russia.
The report also refers to China's stepped up military activities near Taiwan. It says Chinese forces appear to be trying to make their regular activities in the area a fait accompli while also seeking to improve their combat capabilities. The report says the possibility of heightened military tension between China and Taiwan cannot be ruled out.
On North Korea, the report notes the country's test-firings of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and purported satellite launches that use ballistic missile technology. It says Pyongyang is focusing on qualitatively improving its nuclear and missile capabilities by diversifying its weapons systems and through reconnaissance activities.
The report calls for a "fundamental reinforcement" of Japan's defense capabilities amid what it calls the "most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War Two."
It says the country will start deploying domestic stand-off missiles and US Tomahawk missiles in fiscal 2025 as part of a plan to acquire counterstrike capabilities against enemy missile bases.