Ukraine war, Taiwan tensions boost Japanese support for doubling of defence budget
- Yomiuri poll shows 51 per cent support for unprecedented increase in defence spending
- Japanese PM Kishida wants military budget to reach 2 per cent of GDP by 2027
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased concerns in Japan about the possibility of conflict over Taiwan and boosted support for a doubling of defence spending, analysts said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has ordered a sharp rise in defence spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product by 2027 to improve the country’s military capabilities.
Kyodo News reported on Monday that about ¥43 trillion (US$314 billion) would be committed in the next five budgets, an increase of more than 50 per cent compared with the five years ending this financial year. Japan budgeted US$39.66 billion for defence spending this financial year.
03:07
‘US bases on Okinawa inevitable’: perceptions shift in Japan on American military presence
Japan has long capped its annual defence spending at about 1 per cent of GDP, with the country relying for decades on protection from the United States’ “nuclear umbrella”. But a poll conducted by Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper last week showed 51 per cent support for the unprecedented increase in defence spending.