SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Japan must ease fears over military build-up

Nearly doubling of Tokyo defence budget comes soon after talks with China raised regional hopes of a decrease in tensions

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Japan’s build-up of a “counterstrike capacity” creates the potential for Tokyo to go on the offensive and is hard to reconcile with a pacifist constitution. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Editorial

Published: 6:15am, 30 Dec 2022

A meeting between the leaders of China and Japan in November raised hopes of easing tensions between the two countries. They agreed to be “partners, not threats”, strengthening mutual trust and coordination. But a month later, Tokyo approved a controversial military overhaul, a landmark branded “highly dangerous” by Beijing.

Japan intends to almost double its annual defence budget over the next five years, rising to US$65.4 billion in 2027.

It is the biggest increase since the second world war and will make Japan the third highest spender on its military, after the US and China.

Funds will be used to buy hundreds of US-made Tomahawk missiles and develop fighter jets and drones. The army, navy and air force will come under a central command.

The building of a “counterstrike capacity” targeting enemies preparing attacks on Japan is especially worrying. It creates the potential for Tokyo to go on the offensive and is hard to reconcile with a pacifist constitution.

Japan insists the measures are consistent with its long-standing “defence-oriented” approach. It argues they are needed to respond to geopolitical developments.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s missile tests and disputes with China over Taiwan and the Diaoyu Islands have boosted public support in Japan for the move.