Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday assured Asia-Pacific nations that his country’s planned military build-up aims to promote peace and stability in the region amid concerns over a new proposed defence policy.

“My basic view is that regional peace and stability is the premise for the prosperity not only of Japan but of the Asia-Pacific region,” he said in Manila at the end of a three-country South-East Asian tour.

Abe said the visit allowed him to explain Japan’s military plans “so that the countries in the region will not have any misunderstanding.”

“After World War II, Japan together with the United States has been really contributing to the peace and stability in the region,” he said. “In going forward, we intend to continue to play that role.” Japan’s Defence Ministry has released an interim report on a review of its national defence programme, which calls for the strengthening of its armed forces and the possibility of acquiring capabilities to attack enemy bases.

The report calls for the purchase of unmanned surveillance drones; the creation of a marines unit to protect remote islands, especially those disputed with China; and the strengthening of Japan’s ability to dispatch troops to far-flung isles.

Abe said the review of Japan’s national defence programme and pacifist constitution was continuing and would be guided by the principles of sovereignty, human rights and the right of collective self-defence.

“We are deepening our discussion on what is the appropriate form of the constitution for the present-day Japan based on the changes of the security environment and of the international society as a whole,” he said.

Japan’s constitution, enacted shortly after World War II, contains a clause that outlaws war to settle international disputes.

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