Japan defense chief vows to boost monitoring after sailing of China carrier

TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said enhancing the country's defense posture in the Pacific is an "urgent" task, including for information gathering and surveillance, after the recent sailing of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in waters off Okinawa.

Koizumi said the carrier's movement was part of efforts by China "to improve the operational capability of aircraft carriers and enhance its ability to conduct operations in distant maritime and aerial areas" as it "increasingly expands military activities around Japan."