US welcomes Japan's move to expand military role

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The United States on Tuesday welcomed a historic shift by Japan to expand the role of its military by reinterpreting the terms of the nation's US-imposed constitution.

"We welcome the government of Japan's new policy regarding collective self-defence and related security matters," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

After months of political horse-trading and browbeating of opponents, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his cabinet had formally endorsed a reinterpretation of rules that have banned the use of armed force except in very narrowly-defined circumstances.

Under the new definition, Japanese troops will now be able to come to the aid of allies - primarily the United States - if they come under attack from a common enemy, even if Japan is not the object of the attack.

The dramatic shift comes amid soaring regional tensions with China centred on disputed islands in both the South China and East China seas.