[political]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet has approved Japan's biggest annual defence budget in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and a territorial row with China.

AFP.jpg (44.41 KiB) Viewed 863 times

The Cabinet on Thursday approved 5.13 trillion yen (US$43.6 billion) in defence spending for the fiscal year starting in April, up 1.4 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year.

It marks the fifth straight annual increase and reflects the hawkish Abe's attempt to build up Japan's military, which since World War II has been constitutionally limited to self defence.

Abe, who is pushing revisions to the constitution, strongly backed new security laws that took effect this year making it possible for Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since the end of the war.

Japan is on constant alert against neighbouring North Korea which has conducted two underground nuclear tests and more than 20 missile launches this year. Under the new budget, the ministry aims to beef up Japan's ballistic missile defences, allocating funds for a new interceptor missile under joint development with the United States.

Also reflected in the spending is Tokyo's determination to defend uninhabited islets in the East China Sea -- administered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus.

The ministry said it has allocated funds for increased monitoring operations and to maintain mastery of the air and sea to counter attacks against what it euphemistically described as "island areas" - a reference to the disputed territory.

Separately, the Japan Coast Guard will increase security around the islands by allocating a record 210 billion yen, which includes two new patrol ships and the hiring of 200 more personnel.

In August, Tokyo lodged more than two dozen protests through diplomatic channels claiming that Chinese coast guard vessels had repeatedly violated its territorial waters around the disputed islands.

RTHK

[Mischief_Managed_05]

It is time that Japan reacts to the over dominance of China in South China Sea to maintain balance in the region

[political]

@Mischief_Managed_05 True indeed, but can the West afford having either of them overly armed and permitting the engagement of an Asian arms race?

[ThirdTerm]

In view of China’s growing maritime activities, Japan is looking to beef up its defense of remote islands, especially in the East China Sea and around Okinawa Prefecture.

The ministry allocated ¥70.7 billion to prepare for the deployment of Ground Self-Defense Force units on Miyako Island in Okinawa and Amami-Oshima Island northeast of Okinawa. Both are near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China and Taiwan claim as Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively. Chinese government ships have been intruding into Japanese waters around the islands on a regular basis for the past few years.

The Cabinet also secured ¥8.5 billion to acquire 11 AAV-7 amphibious vehicles, the last batch in a plan to procure 52 units for the GSDF amphibious unit it will base in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Japan's Cabinet approved a record spending budget of 97.5 trillion yen ($830 billion) for fiscal year 2017 and 5.13 trillion yen ($43 billion) for national defence is 5.2% of the entire budget. Japan has observed an official guideline that defence spending should be maintained within 1% of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP). In 2015, the Chinese government's official defence spending figure was $146 billion, which is at least three times bigger than Japan's defence spending and China spends $100 billion more than Japan.

[Mischief_Managed_05]

@political, Asia is full of nations which can be seen particularly into this arm race. The reason behind this is lack of trust on neighbors and some economic powers alike. As far as west is concerned, in current political scenario it is not in the position to oppose or stop these nations as it did in the past. Only way to resolve this is by positive dialogue and discussion between these Asian giants and the western powers in order to resolve the territorial issues and co-operation issues in Asian Subcontinent. Asian Powers must trust each other and only then this current arms race can be stopped.

[fuser]

Naah, Asian nations are not in some sort of full blown arms race as was seen in Europe prior to ww1 or during cold war. Defense budgets for most of the nations are on par with European nations as percentage of GDP.

[Mischief_Managed_05]

@fuser, i know. BUT since western nations have mostly been and are the largest nuclear powers. It is obvious for them to react in a restraint manner when the eastern/Asian countries increase their nuclear power as these countries have and will pose challenges to the western dominance if necessary.

[One Degree]

People are so silly. No one needs weapons except the US. We will protect you. We have told you this. Lay down your weapons and embrace true freedom. Walmart could be yours.

[Mischief_Managed_05]

People are so silly. No one needs weapons except the US. We will protect you. We have told you this. Lay down your weapons and embrace true freedom. Walmart could be yours.