Japan may station military equipment on islands near an archipelago at the centre of a dispute with China, officials said on Wednesday, after a number of airborne near-confrontations. The defence ministry will ask for money in the next fiscal year to study the idea of putting mobile radars and communication systems on islands near the Japan-controlled Senkakus, which Beijing calls the Diaoyus, a defence spokesman said. ‘The study is part of our plan to operate in southwestern islands with flexibility,’ the spokesman said. The comment came after reports said Japan is considering permanently stationing F-15 fighter jets on Shimoji.