The Defense of Japan 2012, Tokyo's annual defense white paper, proves that Japan is using its ambition for military independence to stage a military comeback, an expert said.

Critics are saying the country's defense white paper, released on Tuesday, isn't coherent because four defense ministers took office and stepped down in the last year.

Satoshi Morimoto, Japan's current defense minister, responded to media questions about the criticism by saying the nation will follow the security strategy adopted in the National Defense Program Outline in 2010 and continue building its military alliance with the US to counterbalance China.