Japan to get first post-WWII aircraft carriers

Tokyo: Japan will get its first aircraft carriers since World War II and buy dozens of fighter jets under a new defence plan approved Tuesday that is intended to counter China’s growing military power. The new five-year defence plan calls for the upgrade, and is the latest in a series of steps under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to boost Japan’s military. Abe’s government argues the efforts are necessary given growing defence challenges in the region, particularly “strong concerns” about the expansion of China’s military footprint. (AFP)