The Defense Ministry will seek a record-high budget of over 7 trillion yen for the next fiscal year, a source familiar with the matter said Tuesday, a move in line with Japan's new security strategy to eventually double its annual defense outlays.
The defense spending plan for the year starting April could surpass the current fiscal year's record 6.8 trillion yen budget if the request is accepted. This increase reflects Japan's intensifying efforts to address severe security challenges posed by China, North Korea, and Russia.
The upcoming budget request, to be made later in the month, will include funds to accelerate the introduction of homemade, long-range missiles, as the country has vowed to acquire the ability to strike enemy territory, called "counterstrike capabilities."
As pillars of those capabilities, Japan aims to extend the range of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missiles to 1,000 kilometers from the current 100 km and develop high-speed glide weapons to defend the nation's southwestern remote islands.
The ministry will also earmark a budget for a plan to build two destroyers equipped with the U.S.-developed Aegis missile interceptor system, the source said.
The Aegis ships are expected to be commissioned by fiscal 2028 as an alternative to a scrapped plan to deploy two land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense batteries in Japan.
Last December, the government updated its three key defense documents, including the National Security Strategy, deciding to obtain the counterstrike capabilities in a major shift in its postwar security policy under the nation's war-renouncing Constitution.
The three policy papers also set a target of expanding Japan's annual defense budget to 2 percent of its gross domestic product in fiscal 2027.
Japan had long capped its annual defense spending at around 1 percent of its GDP. The initial defense budget for fiscal 2022 stood at around 5.4 trillion yen.
Fiscal 2023 marked the start of a five-year period intended to fundamentally revamp the country's defense posture by spending a combined 43 trillion yen.
© KYODO
15 Comments
sakurasuki
Does Japan really have society problem? Aging population, price of daily items that increasing, stagnant economy, declining birth rate, single mothers who struggling and many others?
Not in the eyes of J govt
Marc Lowe
This is outstanding news. They should make it an even 10 instead of 7. The CCP is a huge threat to Japan and North Korea is acting uppity, although one could argue that Japan is effing them on. Aegis ships and missiles are excellent deterrents to invading enemies. Moreover, just having them pretty much insures countries with crummy infrastructure that can't handle flooding or famine (eg. Communist countries like China and North Korea) just stay away. While Japan is at it, they might consider stricter checks on foreigners they in so as not to breach national security and prevent terrorist insurgents. Some of this money should definitely go towards that.
WA4TKG
It's either this or you can all start learning chinese before the take over, assuming you haven't already.
Wesley
THIS! I wholeheartedly agree!
The enemy is already inside. Eg, that recent prc university professor who was feeding Japanese tech back to his homeland.
Foreigners who buy "homes" near JGSDF bases, etc.
Peter14
It is unfortunate that increased defense spending is urgently needed, but with Japan's neighbors continually building up their own militaries and stating aims of expanding their national borders, Japan must ensure it remains able to deter any hostility or territorial encroachment and be able to work with friendly nations to keep peace in the region.
If only China and North Korea would spend their money helping their people instead of using it to expand militaries, then Japan would not need it increase its own defense spending. Russia's hostile invasion of Ukraine is setting the stage for further hostilities in Japan's region.
Wesley
Actually, learning the language is a good idea. Know thy enemy.
JeffLee
The Japanese govt wants to build many of their weapons systems themselves or through licensing, rather than buying them relatively cheaply from the US or Europe off the shelf. It costs lots and lots of money to develop a defense hardware industry from close to scratch, which the govt is aiming to do. So expect massive government govt spending in this area in the years ahead. Way more than now.
So, don't be surprised if the govt cuts our pension or healthcare services in the future as it fund corporate military R&D.
William77
And this where our national taxes end.
These ultra right wing revisionists from the elite LDP will certainly have their moment of proud to give “old glory” to their past family members.
Meanwhile the Yen is sinking and the welfare so as the wages are untouched,to don’t mention the inflation.
Peter14
China threatens Japan daily trying to out muscle Japan from its territory including the Senkaku Islands. That is a clear and constant threat to Japan. Wake up and smell the smoke!
No, China wants the US military out so it can move on the Senkaku islands and knows alone Japan cant stop them. The US military being in Japan and South Korea hampers China's ambitions of expanding its borders and taking territory by force. Dont be suckered by China!
You may be happy to do nothing as China grows its military machine at an alarming rate, and as Xi constantly extols his forces to prepare for war and be able to win. But China has never shown an ounce of benevolence under Jinping Xi. Nothing but hostile coercion and belligerence trying to force a change of the status quo through force with hundreds of armed merchant ships, Coast Guard hostility and trying to force others out of international waters it illegally claims as China's alone. Luckily the free nations of the world are not buying into China's narrative, even if many JT poster's are.
BeerDeliveryGuy
The SDF can start by paying it’s servicemembers better.
The GSDF soldiers we trained with were payed about 2/3rds that of US Marines at LCpl level, and the gap widened as the pay grade rose.
They also had less benefits like free education for dependents, no GI bill, no free or subsidized housing, etc… and the camp facilities were scant even by USMC standards.
OKuniyoshi
All these money, could have been saved, used for other purposes, if, you just stay out of other country's internal affairs. Once that is done, the problems with N Korea will take care of itself. The quarrel you have with your neighbor regarding disputed territory, will stay disputed, no threat, its 2023, not 1900s, or there about, no country wants conflicts/wars today. Just like so many countries in the world, just stay out of the fight between the two big powers.
BertieWooster
Yamaneko,
Completely true, but you're missing the point. All this weaponry comes at a VERY, VERY high cost. Some people are making BIG bucks on this. And the "other side" is similarly being hoodwinked. We have only one planet, isn't it about time we stopped this childish nonsense and worked out a way for us ALL to live together?