In Japanese hands, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter will accelerate the strategic transformation of Japan's military to one bent on the "dynamic deterrence" of China, said an analysis of the impact of the stealth fighter in an official People's Liberation Army (PLA) website.

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The op-ed piece argued that Japan's acquisition of F-35A stealth fighters "will impose substantial impacts on the security situation in East Asia and calls for close attention."

This acquisition plus the stationing of an entire squadron of F-35B fighters at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has created an "arc of stealth combat capability" with the F-35 at its core.

The stealth jets will help transform the doctrine guiding the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF or the Japanese armed forces) to one based on the "dynamic deterrence" of China. JSDF's doctrine has evolved over time from "basic defense" to "joint and mobile defense" to "homeland defense" and now to "dynamic deterrence."

JSDF's strategic focus will now move from the north, where it once guarded against threats from Russia, to the southwest where it stands ready to confront China,

The op-ed said the "F-35 is a vital piece of equipment that can support Japan's strategic transformation and an advanced fighter that can guard the southern and northern end of Japanese islands, thus intensifying the contention with China over the East China Sea."

It also alleges that to assist the United States, Japan "has been consolidating its military alliance with the U.S. in recent years, and purchasing and commissioning the F-35A fighter jets is an important step toward deepening the alliance and pushing their military integration."

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on Dec. 1, 2016 received its first combat ready F-35A at the U.S. Air Force's Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

This F-35A was the first of four the JASDF received in December. The Japanese government signed a deal to buy 28 F-35As over the next five years, and will buy 14 more of the fifth generations stealth fighters part of a plan to purchase 42 of the jets.

Japan became the third international customer after South Korea and Israel to receive the jet, considered the most advanced in the world but one plagued with technical problems and serious cost overruns that have combined to delay delivery of the jet to the U.S. armed services and foreign customers.

JASDF will use the F-35As to replace its four decade-old fleet of 70 F-4EJ Kai fighter bombers (famous as the Phantom in U.S. service), which is an upgraded version of the F-4EJ with improved avionics and the capability to attack both ground targets and enemy warships.

The acquisition of the F-35s is a key part of Japan's plan to re-arm the JASDF with more modern weapons and equipment in the face of untrammeled Chinese aggression in Asia.

Japan's Ministry of Defense has requested a record budget of $51 billion for fiscal 2017 to cope with persistent military threats from China and North Korea amid growing tensions that might spin out of control.

The defense budget is the fifth successive annual increase and is 2.3 percent higher than the current budget. Of this amount, funds will be allotted to the F-35As. Japan has ordered 48 of the fifth generation stealth fighter and is one of eight countries jointly developing this aircraft.

Pilots of the JASDF will flew the F-35A for the first time in December 2016. The F-35As will be stationed at the Misawa Air Base alongside U.S. F-16s from the USAF 35th Fighter Wing.

TagsJapan, Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, People's Liberation Army, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan Self-Defense Force, East China Sea, Japan Air Self-Defense Force