Also on the shopping list are AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles - Japan is in the process of setting up an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade by 2017.

Japanese defense ministry's 10-year National Program Guidelines - subdivided into two five-year Mid-Term Defense Programs - have allocated 23.97 trillion yen over the five years from 2014 to 2018 toward the creation of more amphibious warfare capabilities and a lighter "dynamic joint defense force".

By the end of 2023, the ministry plans to convert seven out of the current 15 SDF brigades and divisions into mobile divisions.

Japan has a small, but highly sophisticated SDF. Current spending on defense provides Japan with significant capacity to maintain a modern, high technology force. Japan's latent capacity to increase defense spending significantly in the future shouldn't be underestimated.

Japan has initiated defense cooperation with the ASEAN countries, especially those that have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, to train and improve their own coast guards.

During their first two-plus-two talks, Japan reached an agreement with Indonesia on Dec 17 following Tokyo's accord with India on the legal framework for transfers of defense equipment and technology.

Japan's rising defense budget represents a strategic move with significant implications for the security situation in Asia.

The ongoing transformation of Japan's security policy on the basis of Abe's so-called proactive pacifism will have far-reaching effects on security and the balance of power in the region.

The author is China Daily's Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn