Japan seeking its 1st aircraft carrier

5 Marines dead

TOKYO, Dec 11, (Agencies): Japan is seeking to possess its first aircraft carrier to allow for the deployment of US-made stealth fighters as it seeks to bolster its arms capability under a new 10-year defense plan.

A draft outline of Japan’s new defense plan, presented by the government Tuesday, proposes refitting an existing helicopter carrier into one that can deploy US-made F-35 stealth fighters capable of short take-offs and vertical landings.

A candidate would be the Maritime SelfDefense Force’s helicopter carrier Izumo, a 250-meter (820-foot)-long warship that can carry 14 helicopters.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scrapping the current program after only five years, citing rapid changes in a security environment that requires higher deterrence to cope with threats from North Korea and China.

The new National Defense Program Guidelines are expected next week.

The draft outline says Japan needs more STOVLS such as F-35Bs to beef up its air defense capability in the Pacific, while expanding surveillance in the area. Japan plans to buy 99 F-35s to replace some of the country’s fleet of F-15s.

Critics say possessing an aircraft carrier would give Japan a strike capability in violation to the country’s pacifist constitution.

The draft outline also calls for setting up a unit specializing in space, cyberattacks and electronic warfare, while integrating the ground maritime and air forces to better coordinate operations.

As Japan comes under pressure from President Donald Trump to allow more exports from the US, purchases of costly American weapons would be a way to reduce the US trade deficit, while enhancing military cooperation between the allies. Buying more American weapons, however, would be a setback for Japan’s defense industry, which hopes to develop its own replacement to F-2 fighter jets.

Abe

5 missing US Marines dead:

The US military said Tuesday five Marines who had been missing since two planes crashed off Japan a week ago were dead. The announcement brings the final toll in the Dec 6 crash to six, with a seventh crew member rescued after the incident.

The crash involving an F/A-18 fighter jet with two crew onboard and a KC-130 refuelling tanker with five crew occurred in the early morning around 100 kilometres (55 nautical miles) off the cape of Muroto in southwestern Japan.

It prompted a massive search and rescue operation, which the US military said had now been called off.

“Every possible effort was made to recover our crew and I hope the families of these selfless Americans will find comfort in the incredible efforts made by US, Japanese, and Australian forces during the search,” said US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Eric Smith, commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

US sanctions 3 N. Koreans:

The Trump administration imposed sanctions Monday on three senior North Korean officials for human rights abuses in the isolated country.

US officials said the sanctions are intended to call attention to “brutal” censorship and human rights abuses as well as the death last year of American captive Otto Warmbier.

The Treasury Department said the officials have important roles in government agencies previously placed under sanctions. It was not clear what role any had in the treatment of the 22-year-old student from Ohio who died in June 2017 shortly after he was released from 17 months of captivity in North Korea.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said North Korea was committing “flagrant and egregious abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

4 killed in HK bus accident:

Four people were killed when an empty runaway schoolbus mounted a pavement in a crowded Hong Kong neighbourhood on Monday, trapping passers-by underneath and injuring 10, police said.

Two women – aged 80 and 70 – and two men – aged 83 and 77 – were killed after the yellow bus careered out of control in the downtown North Point district.

Photographs in local media showed victims sprawled on the ground while others received medical treatment at the scene.

The vehicle rolled down the street after it was parked, terrifying passers-by as the driver ran towards it and tried in vain to stop it, according to the police.