Japan approves major defence overhaul amid China threats to security
- Biggest defence shake-up in decades will increase security spending to two per cent of GDP by 2027, reshape military command and acquire new missiles
- Polls suggest Japan’s public largely backs the shift, worried by growing Chinese military power and geopolitical developments like the war in Ukraine
Japan’s government approved a major defence policy overhaul on Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China poses the “greatest strategic challenge ever” to the country’s security.
In its largest defence shake-up in decades, Japan vowed to up security spending to two per cent of GDP by 2027, reshape its military command, and acquire new missiles that can strike far-flung enemy launch sites.
“Fundamentally strengthening our defence capabilities is the most urgent challenge in this severe security environment,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week.
Polls suggest Japan’s public largely backs the shift, worried by growing Chinese military power and geopolitical developments like the war in Ukraine.
But the changes could still be controversial as Japan’s post-World War II constitution does not officially recognise the military and limits it to nominally self-defensive capabilities.
The moves are outlined in three defence and security documents approved by the cabinet on Friday.