Japan's government has set out its policy on boosting the country's Coast Guard capabilities.

The ministers involved approved the Policy on Strengthening the Maritime Security System on Friday. This is the first time for the document to be updated since 2016. It coincides with a Cabinet decision on Japan's three key defense documents, including the National Security Strategy.

The new maritime policy takes into account heightening international tensions. These include larger and more heavily armed Chinese government vessels operating near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

Japan controls the Senkaku Islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

The new policy aims to step up patrolling of territorial waters by ships and aircraft, and enhance maritime surveillance capabilities by using unmanned aerial vehicles and other new technologies.

The policy states the Japan Coast Guard will enforce information sharing and cooperation with the Self-Defense Forces to improve strategic support capacity and collaboration with relevant bodies at home and abroad.

It also aims to establish specific procedures for placing the Coast Guard under the defense minister's control in the event of an armed attack. The Coast Guard is expected to undergo joint training with the SDF.

The policy also proposes increasing the Coast Guard budget to about 320 billion yen, or about 2.3 billion dollars, in fiscal 2027. That is up by 40 percent from the current fiscal year.