Abe to beef up Japan's defense dealing with China

Jan 8, 2013- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to create new guidelines for Japan's defense program this year.

Japan Coast Guard F-15

He is expected to scrap the mid-term defense buildup program under the current guidelines endorsed by the former government in December 2010.

The Defense Ministry will submit a request to increase the defense budget by more than 100 billion yen, or about 1.14 billion dollars, for fiscal 2013.

Some of the money will be used to increase surveillance of the Senkaku Islands and the surrounding waters in the East China Sea. Chinese government ships have repeatedly intruded into the waters.

The Abe cabinet is also expected to increase the number of SDF personnel and purchase new equipment.