Japan’s defense budget swells to counter China’s growing military threat

Japan’s cabinet ministers approved new long-term national defense guidelines that includes the largest ever defense budget for the next fiscal year. The latest guidelines express “strong concern” over an “uncertain regional security” situation posed from China’s military expansion in regional waters.

A mid-term defense plan also endorsed setting aside $240 billion over five years beginning in fiscal 2019 to pave the way for beefing up weapons and defense equipment. Japan’s military wish list prioritizes the upgrade of two self defense force ships with “offensive” aircraft carrier capabilities — mainly to accommodate F-35B stealth fighter jets on board. The defense build up program carries a hefty price tag of 5.26 trillion yen ($48 billion dollars) — the highest figure for the seventh consecutive year signalling a sudden shift from a post war self-defense only posture…

The new defense guidelines introduced the ambiguously worded “multidimensional joint defense force” concept, which stresses the need to invest in more technologically advanced domains of warfare. The government dismissed claims of unconstitutionality justifying that fighter jets will not be assigned on navy ships permanently despite the refurbishment and will be deployed during large scale disasters and patrolling missions. With efforts to reassure the public, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the measures aim to reinforce air defense systems within “the minimum necessary level of force permissible” under the pacifist constitution.