Japan approved a record defense budget: what is the reason for the increase in spending?
Japan’s government has approved a record budget proposal for the next fiscal year, allocating more than 9 trillion yen to bolster defense spending, amid rising regional tensions and threats from China.
This is reported by The Associated Press .
Japan’s cabinet has approved a draft national budget that allocates more than 9 trillion yen, equivalent to $58 billion, for defense needs. The funds are planned to be used to strengthen the ability to retaliate, defend the coast, and develop cruise missiles and unmanned systems.
The total budget proposal is $785 billion, or 122.31 trillion yen. The document is designed for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins in April.
The budget bill is 9.4 percent higher than the previous year and is the fourth in Japan’s five-year program to double defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product.
Journalists note that the increase in funding comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Japan and China and general tensions in the region.
In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that the country’s armed forces could intervene in the event of Chinese actions against Taiwan.
“Japan’s armed forces may intervene if China takes measures against Taiwan,” said Sanae Takaichi.
The government also pledged to reach a defense spending target of 2 percent of gross domestic product by March, 2 years ahead of schedule, in particular under pressure from the United States.
The budget proposal includes more than 970 billion yen to strengthen missile capabilities. Separately, 100 billion yen is planned to be spent on the deployment of massive unmanned air, sea and underwater systems under the SHIELD program, scheduled for March 2028.
Japan also intends to spend over 160 billion yen by 2026 on the joint development of a new generation fighter with the UK and Italy for deployment in 2035. Separate funding is provided for research and development of drones with artificial intelligence.
The Japanese parliament plans to approve the draft budget before the end of the current fiscal year.
It was previously reported that journalists analyzed a leak of secret documents and found that Russia agreed to supply China with armored vehicles and train Chinese airborne units in airborne operations , the same elements that in theory could be used to attempt to seize key facilities in Taiwan.
Recall that US President Donald Trump refused to approve a $400 million arms package for Taiwan as he tries to negotiate a trade deal and a potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
By the way, at the beginning of the year , China began construction of at least five new barges specifically designed for landing troops . This could become part of Beijing’s military strategy in the event of an attempted landing on Taiwan.
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