Japan aims to boost five-year defence spending by 50 per cent, to US$318 billion
- The amount will be 1.5 times the current levels, as Japan eyes defence build-up including the use of pre-emptive strikes
- But with an ageing, declining population already struggling with a bulging national debt, funding the increase will not be easy
The planned increase is “to firmly secure the necessities to pursue substantial reinforcement” of Japan’s defence, Hamada said.
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Kishida’s government is currently finalising a revision of its national security strategy and mid- to long-term defence policies, which would allow the use of pre-emptive strikes in a major shift to Japan’s self-defence-only post-war principle. Critics say pre-emptive strikes could violate Japan’s pacifist constitution. The government says a “strike-back” capability is only for use in case of an imminent enemy attack.
The three key documents and the budget are expected in late December.
A government-commissioned experts’ panel, in a report last month, said Japan needs to urgently reinforce its deterrence including by adding cruise missiles, interceptors and other equipment while improving commercial ports and airports for emergency military use.
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Kishida’s plan apparently came as a compromise between the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s initial request of 48 trillion yen (US$355 billion) for the coming five years and the Finance Ministry’s proposal of 35 trillion yen (US$260 billion).
Plans for Japan’s military build-up and spending increase also are a sensitive issue for many of its neighbours, including the two Koreas, which were victims of Japanese aggression in the first half of the 1900s.