Japan fires missiles during drills, drawing China rebuke

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has accelerated Japan's shift towards a more muscular defence policy, further casting off -- with US encouragement -- Tokyo's pacifist stance in place since the end of World War II. The firing on Wednesday of two Type-88 missiles formed part of exercises in the Philippines between US, Australian, Filipino and Japanese troops as well as contingents from France, New Zealand and Canada. Japanese and Philippine defence ministers observed the launch in the northern province of Ilocos Norte...