Japan is concerned that China's potentially dangerous maritime activities could lead to a "contingency situation" and Beijing should act according to international rules rather than by using force, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday in its white paper for 2013.
The white paper also expressed concern over North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, saying the country's ballistic missiles are potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland -- a sign that the missile program has entered a new stage.
The annual report is the first to be published under the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and emphasizes key issues that could threaten Japanese sovereignty and security in view of an increasingly assertive China and defiant North Korea.
