An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Japan's northern coast, prompting a temporary tsunami alert across the region.

(Corrects paragraph 5 to say a group of Chinese naval vessels sailed through the Yokoate Waterway on Sunday, not the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway) BEIJING, April 22 (Reuters) - China said a group of its naval vessels,

This clears the way for Japan to sell weapons to more than a dozen countries.

The Japanese government entered the lethal weapons export business after lifting the ban on April 21 by revising the Three Principles on the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology. The next day,

The change, which allows Japanese companies to sell arms to 17 countries, is a major shift from the nation's pacifist stance and comes at a time of heightened security concerns in the region.

For many people in Japan, the country’s regular tremors are not a big deal. Officials are urging them to prepare for the next catastrophic quake.

The move, which opponents say will raise global tensions, comes as the U.S. ally accelerates its military buildup in the face of growing security challenges in the region.

By bnm Gulf bureau Japan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to establish an alternative oil supply route through the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, Kyodo reported on April 23, citing government sources.