Stay updated with breaking news from Term Defense Program. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Unifying the Japan-US security document system also means strengthening Japan's determination to forge a military alliance with the US and curry favor with Washington.
The LDP panel aims to draw up a proposal around next May after a series of discussions and hearings with experts. The proposal will be the basis for revising three key defense documents.
A defense panel of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has started discussing a review of the National Security Strategy for the first time since it was adopted in 2013, including the possibility of introducing enemy base strike capabilities.
The new frigate class is intended for surveillance missions in waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago, including the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will explore "all options" including the acquisition of "enemy base attack capability" amid security threats.