Does Japan Need to Develop a New Fighter Aircraft? China’s military buildup, coupled with existing problems associated with imports from the U.S., may make such a move a necessity. By January 11, 2021 Advertisement The Japanese archipelago lies in a volatile region rife with historical tensions and territorial disputes. China’s defense spending has increased at a double-digit rate annually for much of the past three decades. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has drastically modernized its air capabilities with development of the J-20 fighter and the upcoming FC-31, and has demonstrated consistently assertive behavior, including airspace violations and military buildups in the South China Sea.