#Ldp

The outline also calls for penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of up to ¥200,000 for individuals who publicly damage the flag.

Actions expected to be taken by social media operators include halting reward payments to users and improving their capacity to respond to content deletion requests.

The approval paves the way for the revision — a top priority for the government — to be submitted to the current parliamentary session.

A further increase in security spending is among issues set to be discussed as part of a plan to revise Japan's three key security-related documents this year.

As a first step, the government plans to establish a national intelligence bureau as early as July.

Foreign ministers usually don't command much authority. Toshimitsu Motegi is different.

The approval paves the way for the revision — a top priority for the government — to be submitted to the current parliamentary session.

The group is endorsed by both party heavyweights who backed her in last year's presidential election and those who ran against her.

Tensions between the two Asian countries have increased markedly since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency in November last year.

Even as the prime minister enjoys high approval ratings, her party has been suffering a string of local electoral defeats.

The two nations' militaries hold frequent joint exercises and are now looking to share technology — including Australia's decision to purchase Japanese naval vessels.

Without explicitly mentioning Article 9, Takaichi said the charter — unchanged since 1947 — must be updated to reflect today's international environment and security realities.

Changes in the political landscape as a result of the general election have raised uncertainties over the incumbent governor's backers and their position on a U.S. military base.