Japan says can build subs in Australia 'from day one'

[WorldNews]

By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Japanese consortium bidding for a $35 billion project to build stealth submarines for Australia said on Tuesday it was confident it could build boats onshore in Australia from day one, if the Australian government requests it. Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman Masaki Ishikawa was effectively confirming Tokyo would be willing to build all of the submarines onshore in Australia, where manufacturing jobs are a hot political issue. European rivals Thysenkrupp Marine Systems from Germany and French state-owned naval giant DCNS had both previously pledged to build the subs entirely in Australia, but Japan had been reticent to commit until recently.

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