Japan to deploy troops near disputed South China sea islands from 2019

Tokyo: Japan’s deputy defence minister has met with the mayor of a southern island to seek his support for a planned deployment of hundreds of troops to bolster defence in the region including nearby disputed East China Sea islands. [caption id=“attachment_1252099” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A chain of disputed islands also claimed by Japan, triggering a protest from Tokyo. AP Photo/Kyodo News[/caption] Officials report that Vice Minister of Defence Kenji Wakamiya was in Ishigaki today to explain to mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama a plan to deploy about 500 ground troops on the island beginning in 2019. The troops would belong to units for emergency response in case of infiltration on nearby islands or for missile defence. Ishigaki has jurisdiction over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyu islands. Japan has stepped up defence readiness amid a Chinese military buildup and its aggressive patrols near the disputed islands. AP