Japan's new Restoration Party seeks more defence spending

A new Japanese party that hopes to become a force to contend with in a December 16 general election called for more defense spending on Thursday to protect national interests and cuts in corporate and income taxes to bolster the economy.

The Japan Restoration Party, which trails only the main opposition Liberal Democrats in a latest opinion poll, also wants to shrink the role of the central government while strengthening market competition and making it easier to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution.

The party’s platform calls for breaking a decades-old unofficial cap that limited defense spending to 1 per cent of gross domestic product and boosting maritime surveillance. Such moves could further strain ties with China, already frayed by a feud over islands in the East China Sea.

Deputy party chief and popular Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto said exporting Japan’s weapons technology would make Japan more secure.

“What Japan can do is [form] alliances in economy and in technology. If Japanese weapons flow into various countries while Japan is keeping the core [technology], that would be strong security [for Japan],” Hashimoto told a news conference unveiling the party’s platform.

Japan last year relaxed its self-imposed ban on military equipment exports, but shipments are still limited to strategic allies like the United States.