inheritance - Why does the "protected" modifier in Java allow access to other classes in same package?

Question

What is the reason that in Java, a member with a "protected" modifier can not only be accessed by the same class and by subclasses, but also by everyone in the same package?

I am wondering about language design reasons, not actual applications (e.g., testing)

Answer 1

This design is based on the idea that the package is the appropriate unit, maintained and released by one internally consistent team; inheritance relationships have much less to do with who's maintaining and releasing what when.