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The Japanese development of an aircraft carrier – fit to carry US-made F-35 fighter jets – has shocked its Asian neighbours.

Earlier this week, Japan revealed its plan to convert a helicopter warship into a stealth fighter aircraft carrier for the first time since the devastation of the Second World War.

China has been alarmed by the escalation in Japan's militarization and warned that this move violates their constitutional "no-war" clause.

An expert in Asian affairs, Andrew Leung, said the move could be a "pretext for a larger military force".