EXPLAINER: Why Japan is boosting its arms capability, budget
2 years ago

EXPLAINER: Why Japan is boosting its arms capability, budget

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan this week adopted a new national security strategy that includes determination to possess “counterstrike” capability to preempt enemy attacks and double its spending to gain a more offensive footing and improve its resilience to protect itself from growing risks from China, North Korea and Russia. The new spending target follows the NATO standard and will eventually push Japan’s annual budget to about 10 trillion yen, the world’s third biggest after the United States and China. ___ CHINA AS ‘GREATEST STRATEGIC CHALLENGE’ Fear of a regional security environment described as “the severest and most complicated” in the postwar era has been a driving force behind the revision to Japan’s strategy. Because of its wartime past as aggressor and devastation after its defeat, Japan’s postwar policy prioritized the economy over security by relying on American troops stationed in Japan under their bilateral security agreement, in a division of roles known as “shield and dagger.” Prospects for even closer operation with the U.S. military under the new strategy has prompted concerns that Japan would take more offensive responsibility.

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History of this topic

Japan careering along dangerous road without due care and attention
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan careering along dangerous road without due care and attention

China Daily  

Members of the Japan Self Defense Forces wearing protection gears take part in a civil protection exercise in Tokyo on January 15, 2024. In recent years, Japan has been running wildly on the dangerous road of expanding its military, which deserves high vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community. Against the backdrop of overall deflation in Japan's economy, sluggish …

Japan careering along dangerous road without due care and attention
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan careering along dangerous road without due care and attention

China Daily  

Members of the Japan Self Defense Forces wearing protection gears take part in a civil protection exercise in Tokyo on January 15, 2024. In recent years, Japan has been running wildly on the dangerous road of expanding its military, which deserves high vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community. Against the backdrop of overall deflation in Japan's economy, sluggish …

Japan's defence ministry seeks record budget as it faces growing threat from China
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan's defence ministry seeks record budget as it faces growing threat from China

The Hindu  

Japan’s Defence Ministry Friday sought a record 8.5 trillion-yen budget for the next year to fortify its deterrence on southwestern islands against China’s increasing threat while focusing on unmanned weapons and AI to make up for the declining number of servicemembers as a result of the country’s shrinking population. Japan has been rapidly building up the defence of the southwestern …

Japan’s defense ministry seeks record budget as it faces growing threat from China
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan’s defense ministry seeks record budget as it faces growing threat from China

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s Defense Ministry on Friday sought a record 8.5 trillion yen budget for the next year to fortify its deterrence on southwestern islands against China’s increasing threat. Japan has been rapidly building up the defense of the southwestern region in recent years amid China’s growing military threats and tension in the regional seas. It Japanese defense officials say …

Japan’s Standoff Missiles Are Coming a Year Early
11 months ago

Japan’s Standoff Missiles Are Coming a Year Early

The Diplomat  

Japan is accelerating the development of homegrown standoff missiles as it grows more concerned about China’s rapid military build-up and assertiveness, as well as North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats. On December 15, Japan’s Defense Minister Kihara Minoru announced that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will deploy an improved variant of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -developed Type 12 surface-to-ship …

Japan inks deal to buy 400 long-range missiles from US
11 months ago

Japan inks deal to buy 400 long-range missiles from US

The Hindu  

Japan signed a deal with its ally the United States on Thursday to buy 400 long-range Tomahawk missiles as it ramps up its military capacity to counter regional security threats. "The conclusion of this signing starts the procurement of the Tomahawk missiles," a defence official told reporters on Thursday after the deal was signed in Tokyo. At a press conference …

Japan approves record $56 billion defence budget
1 year ago

Japan approves record $56 billion defence budget

Hindustan Times  

Japan approved Friday a record defence budget worth $56 billion for the next fiscal year, as tensions rise with China and North Korea. The defence budget announced Friday includes 370 billion yen to build two new warships rigged with the US-developed Aegis missile defence system. The 7.95 trillion yen draft budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year was approved by the …

Japan Cabinet OKs record military budget to speed up strike capability, eases lethal arms export ban
1 year ago

Japan Cabinet OKs record military budget to speed up strike capability, eases lethal arms export ban

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a hefty 16% increase in military spending next year and eased its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, underscoring a shift away from the country’s self-defense-only principle. The easing would help strengthen Japan’s feeble defense industry and broaden the country’s new official military aid designed for like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region in …

Japan OKs new budget incl. hefty arms cost to deter China
1 year, 9 months ago

Japan OKs new budget incl. hefty arms cost to deter China

Associated Press  

TOKYO — The lower house of Parliament approved Tuesday a budget for the coming fiscal year that includes a record 6.8 trillion yen in defense spending, part of Japan’s effort to fortify its military as China’s influence in the region grows. “The improvement of childcare has been neglected for more than 10 years,” Chinami Nishimura, a lawmaker with the opposition …

Japan’s Defense Spending Conundrum
1 year, 10 months ago

Japan’s Defense Spending Conundrum

The Diplomat  

Facing “the most severe and complex security environment since World War II,” the Japanese government is determined to raise defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027. On December 8, Kishida announced that Japan would need 1 trillion yen more in annual tax revenue by fiscal year 2027 to fund the defense spending increase of 17 trillion yen over …

Japan racks up new security deals with eyes on China
1 year, 11 months ago

Japan racks up new security deals with eyes on China

Firstpost  

The government unveiled a major defence overhaul in December, including doubling spending to two per cent of GDP by 2027 and designating China the ‘greatest strategic challenge ever’ to Japan’s security Tokyo, Japan: Space defence, US troop deployments and a “hugely significant” deal with Britain: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is collecting more than souvenirs on his whirlwind diplomatic tour. …

Japan unveils record 114.4 trillion-yen budget in fresh boost to military capacity
2 years ago

Japan unveils record 114.4 trillion-yen budget in fresh boost to military capacity

Firstpost  

Endorsed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet on Friday, the highlights of the budget include record expenditure earmarked for defence and welfare spending for a country that has an ageing population. Tokyo: Japan on Friday announced a budget of 114.4 trillion yen for the next fiscal year beginning April, marking increased military spending and higher social security costs for its …

Tomahawks part of Japan’s record defense spending next year
2 years ago

Tomahawks part of Japan’s record defense spending next year

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s defense spending will jump 20% to a record 6.8 trillion yen next year as the country prepares to deploy U.S.-made Tomahawks and other long-range cruise missiles that can hit targets in China or North Korea under a more offensive security strategy. The budget plan comes a week after Kishida’s government announced Japan’s new National Security Strategy, stating …

Japan unveils record defence budget amid regional security fears
2 years ago

Japan unveils record defence budget amid regional security fears

Al Jazeera  

The cabinet’s nod for a 20-percent rise in military spending is a deviation from pacifist post-WWII self-defence policy. Japan will boost its defence budget for 2023 to a record 6.8 trillion yen, or a 20-percent increase, in the face of regional security concerns and threats posed by China and North Korea. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet approved the budget on …

Japan Unveils Biggest Military Build-up Since World War Two, But Why? EXPLAINED
2 years ago

Japan Unveils Biggest Military Build-up Since World War Two, But Why? EXPLAINED

News 18  

As regional tensions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stoke war fears, Japan on Friday unveiled its largest military buildup since World War Two with a $320 billion plan to buy missiles capable of striking China and ready it for sustained conflict. It also noted that Beijing had not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, adding that …

Explained: Why pacifist Japan wants to augment its arms capability and defence budget
2 years ago

Explained: Why pacifist Japan wants to augment its arms capability and defence budget

Firstpost  

In a huge turn from its postwar security policy, Japan has decided to possess ‘counterstrike capability’ to preempt enemy attacks. The country also aims to double its defence spending to about two per cent of its GDP Japan this week adopted a new national security strategy that includes determination to possess “counterstrike" capability to preempt enemy attacks and double its …

'Military build-up doomed to fail', says China on Japan's new security policy
2 years ago

'Military build-up doomed to fail', says China on Japan's new security policy

Firstpost  

The new strategies outlined in three defence and security documents approved by Japan’s cabinet are a marked departure from post-WWII norms. They involve doubling defence spending over the next five years to 2 per cent of GDP in fiscal 2027 Beijing: After Japan unveiled a new national security plan that signals the country’s biggest military buildup since World War II, …

Japan launches biggest military build-up since World War II amid fears of being targeted by China, North Korea
2 years ago

Japan launches biggest military build-up since World War II amid fears of being targeted by China, North Korea

India TV News  

Japan national security strategy: In a major development, Japan on Friday unveiled the biggest shift in its security plan by adopting a national security strategy amid fears of being targeted by China and North Korea. The new plan, which Japan called one of the biggest shifts since World War II, includes preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles to the security …

Japan Approves Biggest Military Build-Up Since World War II To Counter Growing Threats From China: Report
2 years ago

Japan Approves Biggest Military Build-Up Since World War II To Counter Growing Threats From China: Report

ABP News  

Japan has approved its largest military buildup since World War II, declaring that China posed the "greatest strategic challenge ever" and laying out plans for a counter-strike capability supported by record defence spending, The Guardian reported. Japan will also obtain new weapons capable of striking enemy sites 1,000 kilometres away with land or sea-launched missiles, a move that some feel …

As regional threats rise, Japan eases defense-only strategy
2 years ago

As regional threats rise, Japan eases defense-only strategy

Associated Press  

TOKYO — In a major break from its strictly self-defense-only postwar principle, Japan adopted a national security strategy Friday declaring plans to possess preemptive strike capability and cruise missiles within years to give itself more offensive footing against threats from neighboring China and North Korea. Possession of the strike-back capability is “indispensable” as deterrence to discourage enemy attacks, Prime Minister …

Explained: How Japan is overhauling its defence capibilities with eye on China
2 years ago

Explained: How Japan is overhauling its defence capibilities with eye on China

Firstpost  

Unease has grown in Japan over China’s rapidly modernising military and North Korea’s wave of missile tests. Japanese officials have regularly protested Chinese maritime incursions, and raised concerns about joint aerial exercises by Chinese and Russian planes Tokyo: Japan has laid out plans to expand its defence capabilities drastically over five years. That level “became symbolic of Japan’s security policy …

Pacifist Japan unveils unprecedented $320bn military build-up
2 years ago

Pacifist Japan unveils unprecedented $320bn military build-up

Al Jazeera  

Unthinkable under past administrations, the rapid arming of Japan has the support of about 70 percent of voters, polls say. Japan has said it would begin a once-unthinkable $320bn military build-up that would arm it with missiles capable of striking China and ready it for a sustained conflict as regional tensions and Russia’s Ukraine invasion stoke war fears. “The strategic …

Japan aims to boost 5-year defense spending to $318 billion
2 years ago

Japan aims to boost 5-year defense spending to $318 billion

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday set a new target for military spending over the next five years to 43 trillion yen, or 1.5 times the current level, as the country seeks defense buildup including the use of preemptive strike. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Kishida told him and Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki to work on a …

Here's why Japan is doubling its defence budget
2 years ago

Here's why Japan is doubling its defence budget

Firstpost  

During a meeting, PM Kishida asked Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada that the island country needs to urgently raise its defence budget by fiscal 2027 Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked key ministers on Monday to secure enough funds to raise defence spending to two per cent of gross domestic product in five years. During …

Japan panel: Sweeping defense buildup, more cost unavoidable
2 years, 1 month ago

Japan panel: Sweeping defense buildup, more cost unavoidable

Associated Press  

TOKYO — A Japanese government-commissioned panel said in a report to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that drastic defense buildup including the use of preemptive strike is “indispensable” to counter growing threats in the region. Kishida’s governing party wants to double Japan’s current defense budget to about 10 trillion in the next five years. Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party cited a …

Japan’s New Gambit to Deter China: Intermediate-Range Missiles
2 years, 3 months ago

Japan’s New Gambit to Deter China: Intermediate-Range Missiles

The Diplomat  

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has decided to begin mass production of an extended-range version of the domestically developed Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile in fiscal year 2023 in a bid to bolster its defense against China’s increasing military capabilities, according to the ministry’s budget request released on August 31. Although the Chinese government often accuses Japan of a military buildup …

Japan plans longer-range missiles to counter China, Russia
2 years, 3 months ago

Japan plans longer-range missiles to counter China, Russia

Al Jazeera  

Japan has become increasingly alarmed about China and Russia’s ambitions amid a number of territorial disputes. The procurement plan unveiled in the defence ministry’s annual budget request on Wednesday was short on detail but represents a clear departure from a decades-long range limit imposed on Japan’s constitutionally-constrained Self-Defense Force. “It is also applying pressure around Taiwan with supposed military exercises …

Japan mulling to deploy long-range missiles to counter China: Report
2 years, 4 months ago

Japan mulling to deploy long-range missiles to counter China: Report

Live Mint  

To boost its counterattack capability against China, Japan is considering the deployment of 1,000 long-range cruise missiles, reported Yomiuri newspaper reported on 21 August. The arms would be stationed mainly around the southern Nansei islands and capable of reaching the coastal areas of North Korea and China. Earlier, it has refrained from deploying long-range missiles, among its limits on weapons …

Japan’s Defense Budget: Double or Nothing?
2 years, 5 months ago

Japan’s Defense Budget: Double or Nothing?

The Diplomat  

Calls have intensified for Japan to double its defense spending from 1 to 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which experts fear could embolden China to act more provocatively against Taiwan. Consequently, in April 2022 the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s panel on national security advised the Kishida administration to not …

Japan warns of rising global tension, Russia-China arms ties
2 years, 5 months ago

Japan warns of rising global tension, Russia-China arms ties

The Hindu  

Japan warned of escalating national security threats stemming from Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s tensions with Taiwan in an annual defense paper issued Friday, as Japan tries to bolster its military capability and spending. The report calls Russia's war on Ukraine a “serious violation of international law” and raises "concerns that the effects of such unilateral changes to the …

Japan vows bigger security role in Asia-Pacific to tackle threats
2 years, 6 months ago

Japan vows bigger security role in Asia-Pacific to tackle threats

Al Jazeera  

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans to boost his country’s diplomatic and security role in the Asia-Pacific to tackle what he described as growing threats in the region amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kishida said Japan will consider acquiring a preemptive strike capability in response to an increasingly assertive China, North Korea and now Russia – a controversial …

Does Japan Need to Develop a New Fighter Aircraft?
3 years, 10 months ago

Does Japan Need to Develop a New Fighter Aircraft?

The Diplomat  

The Japanese archipelago lies in a volatile region rife with historical tensions and territorial disputes. These developments may suggest that Japan is potentially reconsidering its engagement with the U.S. on military hardware and could utilize government funds instead for domestic development to enhance the competitiveness of its defense industrial base and, more importantly, gain full control of defense capabilities, as …

Japan Cabinet OKs more defense funds amid potential threats
4 years ago

Japan Cabinet OKs more defense funds amid potential threats

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet approved a ninth straight increase in the nation’s defense budget as the government bolsters funding to develop longer-range cruise missiles and stealth fighters to counter potential threats from China and North Korea. A large chunk of the budget plan goes to reinforce Japan’s missile capability, including 33.5 billion yen to develop extended-range anti-ship missiles that can …

Japan agrees new fighter jet deal to counter growing North Korea and China threats
4 years, 1 month ago

Japan agrees new fighter jet deal to counter growing North Korea and China threats

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Japan has picked Mitsubishi Heavy …

Japan military seeks record budget amid regional threats
4 years, 2 months ago

Japan military seeks record budget amid regional threats

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record-high budget of nearly 5.5 trillion yen for fiscal 2021 to fund more purchases of costly American stealth fighters and expand its capability to counter possible threats in both cyber and outer space. Japan also faced demands from President Donald Trump that U.S. allies increase defense spending, which Japan did in part …

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