Japan weighs military upgrade on Iwo Jima amid growing Chinese presence in Pacific

Japan is considering a significant expansion of its military presence on Iwoto – the island south of Tokyo better known as Iwo Jima and the site of one of World War II’s fiercest battles – as it responds to growing Chinese activity in the Pacific Ocean. The Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday that the defence ministry planned to strengthen its presence on the volcanic island, about 1,207km south of the Japanese capital. Analysts say the aim is to bolster the economic and military security o...

By Julian Ryall