Marines, drones proposed for Japanese military

Japan should acquire amphibious units like the US Marines and surveillance drones, a government paper is expected to say, as a territorial dispute with China rumbles on.

The interim report, to be issued as early as today by the Defence Ministry, will also promote "the need to boost a comprehensive capability of containment" as part of anti-ballistic missile measures against North Korea, reports said.

The phraseology falls short of any mention of "pre-emptive strike capability", but reflects an on-going debate in Japan's defence community about the need to re-interpret aspects of the pacifist country's military stance.

Nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Japan needs to discuss the idea of having some kind of first strike provision if it is to effectively counter threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

However, observers say he must tread carefully. Japan's constitutionally-prescribed pacifism enjoys wide support in the country at large and is particularly cherished by Abe's coalition partners, a centrist Buddhist party.

The Asahi and Yomiuri, influential papers on the left and right respectively, say the interim report advocates a US Marines-like amphibious force, capable of conducting landing operations on remote islands.

It also suggests looking at the introduction of a drone reconnaissance fleet that could be used to monitor Japan's far-flung territory.