Japan needs to find another 6 trillion yen (US$43.9 billion) to fund a promised expansion in defence spending over the five years starting from April, according to documents seen by reporters. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged 43 trillion yen (US$315 billion) in defence outlays over the period to 2027, seeking to bolster Japan’s capabilities amid growing threats from North Korea , China and Russia . That’s an unprecedented increase compared with an initial plan for 25.9 trillion yen in military spending. About 11.1 trillion yen of the extra requirements will come from non-tax revenues, including the government’s foreign exchange funds account and its share in a large commercial building in central Tokyo, as well as spending cuts and surpluses. That leaves a shortfall of about 6 trillion yen, the documents show. Kishida said at the weekend he wouldn’t rely on bond issuance to cover defence costs in the longer term, but would increase taxes in stages starting in fiscal 2024. He has faced opposition from two cabinet members, who have urged caution about raising taxes as the government pushes for wage rises and a virtuous economic cycle. The government is also considering bond issuance to cover part of the increase in outlays, national broadcaster TBS reported earlier. Can doubling the military budget make Japan more secure? Tokyo will soon outline its plans to drastically expand its defence capabilities, with key changes set to include more money for missiles that can be used to destroy enemy launch sites that threaten Japan – or what it terms “ counterstrike capacity ”. To do that, the country is reportedly considering buying up to 500 US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. Japan also wants to deploy more than 1,000 long-range cruise missiles able to reach North Korea or coastal areas of China, according to the Yomiuri newspaper. Japanese-developed “extended-range Type-12 [surface-to-ship] missiles, diversified launch platforms, and high-speed glide weapons” could be included in the upgrades, said James Brady, vice-president of Teneo consultancy. The country reportedly plans the construction of around 130 new ammunition depots by 2035 to hold counterstrike missiles and other armaments. It is also expected to strengthen its military presence in its southernmost islands, to counter threats from an increasingly assertive China. Tokyo will reportedly triple the number of military units there equipped with ballistic missile interception capabilities. According to local media, the government also plans to increase the number of troops stationed in the southern Okinawa region from 2,000 to 3,000. Japan’s Self-Defence Forces will be reorganised, with the army, navy and air force placed under a joint command to respond more quickly to emergencies, the Nikkei newspaper said. For the same reason, the government reportedly wants to make it easier for the military to use civilian ports and airports during peacetime by March 2024. Japanese officials also want to improve coordination with US forces to better prepare for a potential Taiwan crisis, Nikkei said. Taiwan tensions overshadow 50th anniversary of Sino-Japanese ties There will be new units responsible for drones and another dedicated to cyber warfare as well as improved capacity for information-gathering and responding to hi-tech weaponry such as glide bombs and hypersonic weapons. Japan is also expected to increase its surface-to-ship defence units from five to seven, and work to strengthen cooperation between Japan’s coastguard with the military and foreign coastguards. Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse