Increase Defense To Face The Threats Of China And North Korea, Japan Increases Military Budget By Rp. 96.5 Trillion

Illustration of a Japanese F-15 fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Toshi Aoki - JP Spotters)

JAKARTA - Japan plans to increase its annual military spending by a record 6.75 billion US dollars, or around Rp. 96.518.190 million, to boost its air and sea defenses amid fears of threats from China and North Korea.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government on Friday approved the spending as part of the supplementary budget. While such increases in defense spending are common, the 774 billion yen that lawmakers will be asking for approval is the largest amount ever, according to Japan's Ministry of Defense.

"As the security environment around Japan is deteriorating at an unprecedented pace, our urgent task is to accelerate the implementation of various projects," the Defense Ministry said in its spending proposal, citing Reuters November 26.

The cash injection would allow Japan, three months earlier than planned, to increase its surface-to-air missile launchers on islands off the East China Sea. As well as Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries elsewhere that are the last line of defense against incoming North Korean warheads.

China's increasing pressure on Taiwan is causing unease in Japan, as Beijing's control of the island would bring Chinese troops within about 100 kilometers (62 miles) of its territory and would threaten a key maritime trade route that supplies oil and other goods to Japan. It would also provide China with a base for unrestricted access to the western Pacific.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Wikimedia Commons/切干大根)

The extra spending would also allow Japan to quickly acquire anti-submarine missiles, maritime patrol aircraft and military cargo jets, the Defense Ministry said.

The additional military spending comes after PM Kishida's ruling party in October included a goal of nearly doubling defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in its election pledge.

For decades, Japan adhered to a policy of keeping defense spending within 1 percent of GDP, allaying concerns both at home and abroad about the rise of militarism that brought Japan into World War II.

To note, the additional spending plan approved by PM Kishida's Administration on Friday also includes an upfront payment to defense contractors, for equipment to help them deal with the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic that has cost them their finances.