FOCUS: Japan's boosting of southwest defenses to be easier under new Okinawa gov.

TOKYO - Japan is likely to see smoother sailing in its efforts to bolster its defenses in its southwestern region after the new Okinawa governor, who is more supportive of the state's security plans than his predecessor, takes office Wednesday.

Concerned by China's assertive behavior near Japan's southwestern islands and Taiwan while also facing demands from its security ally the United States, Tokyo in recent years has been beefing up defenses on the Nansei Islands, a strategically important chain of islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan.