Should China worry about Japan’s proposed rise in defence spending?
- Budget request covers acquisition of more than 100 items, including upgrades to missile interception systems
- If approved, expenditure would exceed constitutional cap of 1 per cent of GDP
The request amounts to a 1.1 per cent increase in annual spending and would cover the purchase or production of more than 100 items, including domestically developed Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, projected to be able to hit the coasts of China and North Korea.
The spending would also go on six SH-60L anti-submarine patrol helicopters and surveillance vessels, and upgrades to Japan’s ability to intercept missiles, such as equipment for the new Aegis-equipped vessels that can block ballistic missile attacks.
Under its constitution, Japan has capped defence spending at 1 per cent of its GDP for the past 50 years.
The budget request comes amid long-standing, persistent tensions between Japan and China over the disputed Senkaku Islands, known in China as the Diaoyus, as well as frictions with Russia over the Kuril Islands and threats from North Korea’s missile tests.