JAKARTA - Russia highlighted the unprecedented development of Japanese military forces, including the acquisition of the ability to carry out attacks, in connection with the adoption of security and defense doctrines updated by Tokyo.
Japan last week announced its biggest military build-up since the Second World War, due to tensions with hostile China and North Korea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, sparking war concerns.
The announced budget value reaches 320 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 4,994,000,000,000,000. The items on the shopping list over the next five years include interceptor missiles for ballistic missile defenses, attack and reconnaissance drones, satellite communications equipment, Lockheed stealth fighter Martin F-35, helicopters, submarines, warships and heavy transport jets.
"It can be seen clearly that Tokyo has started its own unprecedented military force development path, including the acquisition of potential attacks," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government plan to double Japan's defense spending to about 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for five years, making Japan the world's third-largest military spender after the United States and China.
This reflects Japan's concern that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a precedent that will encourage China to attack Taiwan.
"This is a blatant rejection by the Fumio Kishida Administration of the country's peaceful development, which was constantly declared by previous generations of politicians, and returned to uncontrolled recitation," the Russian statement said.
It is known that China's defense spending surpassed Japan at the turn of the century, and now has a military budget of more than four times greater.
Too few ammunition and the lack of parts to land the plane and keep other military equipment out of service is the most pressing issue Japan has to deal with, a military source told Reuters.
"The Ukrainian war has shown us the need to defend the fighting, and it is something Japan has not prepared so far," said Toshimichi Nagaiwa, retired General of the Self-Defense Air Force.
"Japan started late, like we are 200 meters behind in a 400-meter sprint," he added.
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