Japan needs to boost its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis", its defence minister said on Tuesday, as a new government assessment reiterated growing risks posed by China, North Korea, and Russia.

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In the Asia-Pacific, "not only are China and North Korea further strengthening their military capabilities, China-Russia and Russia-North Korea are also reinforcing their cooperation", he added.

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Koizumi also said that he [also seeks to] increase security cooperation with the Philippines, Australia, and South Korea to realise a "a free and open Indo-Pacific".

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"In order to do so Japan will build and expand multilayered networks among allies and like-minded countries, and enhance interconnectivity with like-minded countries and others in every area."

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Military experts expect it to call for further spending increases aimed primarily at deterring China from starting a conflict with Taiwan that could also draw Japan into a prolonged war.

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