Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 27

TOKYO -- Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) on Tuesday underwent its largest realignment since its founding, with the establishment of a unified command as well as new amphibious forces.

The GSDF launched on Tuesday the Ground Component Command (GCC) to provide unified command over its regional armies and the newly-established Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. (Japan-GSDF-Realignment)

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BANGKOK -- Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved the second high-speed railway project, a flagship infrastructure plan to support the country's Eastern Economic Corridor and to link three main international airports.

Nattaporn Jatusripitak, an adviser of minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, said the 220-km high-speed railway project will be conducted under public private partnership (PPP). (Thailand-Railway project)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesia's economy will grow 5.3 percent this year supported by export and consumption, World Bank said here on Tuesday.

Country Director World Bank for Indonesia Rodrigo A. Chaves said Indonesia's economy expanded significantly in the second half of last year. (Indonesia-Growth)

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TOKYO -- A former senior bureaucrat on Tuesday denied under oath that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his wife Akie, or other politicians were involved in any way with the tampering of documents regarding the cut-price sale of state land to a nationalist school operator.

Despite the denial however, the opposition camp and the public, bemused and outraged by the protracted cronyism scandal, are livid at the ruling camp seemingly trying to force the scandal to an end by pinning the blame on the Financial Bureau and a senior finance ministry official. (Japan-PM-Scandal) Enditem