The following is a summary of the main points of the new National Defense Program Outline:

ON JAPAN'S NEIGHBORS

-- "China, which has a great impact on security in this region, is pushing ahead with enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities in modernizing its navy and air force while expanding marine activities. We need to continue to watch these moves in the future."

-- "North Korea is developing, deploying and proliferating weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles and maintains large-scale special units. These military moves of North Korea are serious, destabilizing factors for regional security."

-- Russian military power in the Far East has been reduced greatly since the end of Cold War but there is still uncertainty over the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Straits.

ON END OF BAN ON MILITARY EXPORTS

-- Japan will maintain a policy of not exporting weapons, but will make an exception under "strict control" for exports to the United States meant for joint development and production of a missile shield, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said in a statement on the new guidelines.

Japan will decide whether to export weapons to the United States or other countries for purposes other than missile defense, such as measures to counter terrorism or piracy, on a case-by-case basis, Hosoda said.

ON ALLIANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES

-- Japan's security alliance with the United States is "indispensable," the guidelines said.

ON HOW TO DEFEND JAPAN

-- Japan will reduce its conventional arms buildup as the possibility of a full-scale invasion has decreased with the end of the Cold War.

-- Japanese troops need to be able to cope with emergencies quickly and flexibly based on high technology and efficient information gathering.

-- Japan will keep a watch for and take "appropriate measures" against foreign intrusions into its air and sea space.

-- Japan will build up its information-gathering capability to detect threats.

ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

-- Japan will actively engage in international peace-keeping activities in close cooperation with diplomats.

ON FUTURE GUIDELINES

-- The new guidelines are for the coming 10 years but could be revised in five years if a "serious change" emerges in the security situation.

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