Japan breaks post-WWII pacifism, offers military aid to like-minded nations.

Japan has unveiled guidelines for a new program to provide "official security assistance" to like-minded countries, breaking with its previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for military purposes. The program will initially provide equipment, supplies, and infrastructure development assistance to partner countries in the form of grants, rather than loans, to reinforce the region's "comprehensive defense architecture." The Philippines will be one of the first beneficiaries, with Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Fiji also being considered. The move is seen as Japan's effort to counter China's growing military influence in the region.