TOKYO -- Japan will consider broadening its foreign aid program for developing countries to cover projects such as military-use facilities and coastal radar systems, moving away from a strictly nonmilitary approach as it vies with China for influence.
Tokyo plans to create a new category for security assistance, expanding its diplomatic options in light of the increasingly challenging security environment. The change comes as Japan makes a wider policy shift, including a sharp increase in defense spending and the relaxation of stringent limits on arms exports.
