Japan approves record US$52 billion military budget, including stealth jets and long-range missiles to counter China

PM Yoshihide Suga is continuing military expansion pursued by predecessor Shinzo Abe to equip Japan’s new planes, missiles and aircraft carriers with greater range

Japan is buying longer-range missiles and considering arming and training its military to strike distant land targets in China, North Korea and other parts of Asia

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Japan’s planned jet fighter, the first in three decades, is expected to cost around US$40 billion and be ready in the 2030s. Photo: AP

Published: 9:46am, 21 Dec 2020Updated: 5:59pm, 21 Dec 2020

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government approved a ninth consecutive rise in military spending on Monday, funding the development of an advanced stealth fighter and longer-range anti-ship missile to counter China’s growing military power.

This came as Japan’s cabinet approved a record US$1.03 trillion budget draft for the next financial year starting in April 2021, the Ministry of Finance said, as the coronavirus and stimulus spending puts pressure on already dire public finances.

The 106.6 trillion yen (US$1.03 trillion) annual budget also got a boost from record military and welfare outlays. It marked a 4 per cent rise from this year’s initial level and up for nine years in a row, with new debt making up more than a third of revenue.

The Ministry of Defence will get a record 5.34 trillion yen (US$51.7 billion) for the year starting in April, up 1.1 per cent from this year. With Suga’s large majority in parliament, enactment of the budget is all but certain.

Suga is continuing the controversial military expansion pursued by his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, to give Japan’s forces new planes, missiles and aircraft carriers with greater range and potency against potential foes including neighbouring China.

China plans to raise its military spending 6.6 per cent this year, the smallest increase in three decades.

Japan is buying longer-range missiles and considering arming and training its military to strike distant land targets in China, North Korea and other parts of Asia.