politics

Defense Ministry requests record budget of ¥5.3 trillion

34 Comments
By Mari Yamaguchi

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Japanese politicians are envious of their U.S. counterparts who regardless if they are Republicans or Democrats are able to make a lot of money from their connections with the Merchants of Death.

Japan is an aging country with little natural resources and a dwindling tax base and many social problems that need to be addressed so they cannot afford to throw away money on weapons systems just because of pressure from the United States. Japan needs a foreign and defense policy based on the actual needs of it's people and that reflects the reality of present day Japan instead of just meekly walking behind the U.S. and doing whatever they say.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

On the one hand, a strong military can protect the homeland, and can even be a deterrent to war.

On the other hand, unscrupulous politicians can be tempted to use a strong military against weaker rivals for self-serving, political purposes.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

¥5.3 trillion more on arsenals means ¥5.3 trillion less for peace.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"For a country whose debt is approaching 300% of gdp, and has the oldest average population in the world? How does that make sense?"

Amazing how JT "experts" still ask these sort of questions:

1) Japan's MASSIVE DEBT IS OWNED MAJORITARILY BY JAPAN!

https://www.ft.com/content/e26d36e6-918b-11e7-a9e6-11d2f0ebb7f0

Worries and fears should be reserved for the US of A and China, whose massive debts are owned by foreigners!

2) Japan is the world's creditor nation; yes, you've heard it correctly.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-assets/japans-2017-external-assets-fall-still-biggest-creditor-nation-idUKKCN1IQ0LL

Japan DOES NOT have lack of cash; in fact there's far too much of it in Japan's banks. Japan is way richer than JT "experts" can ever fathom.

They can certainly buy some American gear and more.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The primary role of any government is to safe guard its citizens against threats. If that means spending more on updating the military and in fact, creating a legally recognised military, then good for them! Japan can not sit back and let the pacifists dictae peace when all around them hostile and rapidly rising military powers are threating its sovereignty and safety!

China and North Korea would love a weak Japan to bully around, and because Japan is the only one not won over by Kim Jong Un's ridiculous peace rhetoric then they worry. Japan has the resources and the means to be a great power once again and needs to be prepared to flex that power when needed in defence of its people and way of life!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Completely ridiculous points yanked from the nether

You mean China does not claim the Senkakus as its territory and Kim did not launch missiles over Japan?

simply because japan's an american colony

The Philippines also was an American colony but it did not prevent China from wrestling control of islands the Philippines considered its territory. In 1974 the U.S. failed to help its satellite South Vietnam to defend several of the Paracel Islands, then annexed by China.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I have a question for everybody critical of Japan's military spendings. What are your means to discourage China from, let's say, invading Senkaku? And to dislodge the Chinese if they are landed there? How Japan is going to defend itself if Kim decides to do some tricks with his missiles? While Japan is not very rational with its spendings (the F-35 purchase is not clever to put it mildly, Japan should develop its own fighter instead of buying this golden brick) strong military is a necessity anyway.

Completely ridiculous points yanked from the nether. Neither of those countries is capable of doing these war mongering thoughts simply because japan's an american colony. Common sense prevails even in despotic nations.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is the Übermensch philosophy Japanese had always believe in, a truly strong power doesn't need to abide by morality. They can do whatever they can as long as they have the power to do so. And it's not far-fetched for us to expect that if given the chance, Japan WILL DO IT AGAIN. (They seem quite gung-hoed to remilitarize their small nation again with Abe leading the imperialism charge). 

https://www.quora.com/Why-doesnt-Japan-admit-to-acts-of-aggression-in-World-War-II-like-the-Germans-did

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I have a question for everybody critical of Japan's military spendings. What are your means to discourage China from, let's say, invading Senkaku? And to dislodge the Chinese if they are landed there? How Japan is going to defend itself if Kim decides to do some tricks with his missiles? While Japan is not very rational with its spendings (the F-35 purchase is not clever to put it mildly, Japan should develop its own fighter instead of buying this golden brick) strong military is a necessity anyway.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

" ..... YubaruToday  06:52 am JST

Here is the dilemma for all the folks who are against the US troops in Japan.

Which would you rather see; a Japan that goes bankrupt from defense spending within 10 years, or 5 years after kicking the US out, and having to spend 10 to 100 times more on defense?....."

Yubaru - you only offered 2 choices. Plenty of other options. Plenty.

eg : reduce US presence (save money) and not spend billions on aegis (save money)

     :  leave US troops as is (no saving) and not spend billions on aegis (save money)

     :  all US troops gone (save money), increase SDF (spend money) but create domestic benefit - ie in Japan - in the way of jobs, infra-structure, local economies etc etc, and not spend billions on aegis (save money)

Just a few of the myriad of computations available.

Of course if you believe Abespeak that NK / China poses an imminent bombing and destruction of the nation of Japan threat , then you'll just want to spend & spend & spend, no matter which route is taken.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“The security environment surrounding Japan has turned more severe and uncertain at a much faster pace than we anticipated five years ago, when we set the current guidelines,” says Prime Minister Abe. If this so, it is only because a militaristic rightist is now running Japan. Of course, Abe’s goal is to crease the profits off Japan’s own military complex. If Abe gets his way the quality of life will suffer as it has in the US. Abe just might get Japan into a war. Abe is as dangerous as Trump.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The military spending has risen seven consecutive years under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

This is the same gov't the advocates a low yen to support exporters to boost the economy. Why? WHY, Abe, are you so goddamn insistent on being a complete hypocrite? If the LDP, invested that 5.3 trillion yen in domestically made military weapons, instead of buying from the US, this 30-year long deflation would be done and over with.

"It's the economy, stupid", James Carville

5 ( +5 / -0 )

will impoverish Japan...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The budget higher means more money from taxpayers going to be used in armament, at the same time welfare will need much for aged people increasing, Abe was struggling to decrease national bonds which was rocketing and now I feel what is the disgrace of his intentions to change Japan Constitution...Why is it happening? A justification to Japan be military stronger when Trump wants to withdraw the still remained US military in Japan? All plots of those leaders, the LDP party, Nihon Kaigi, and US military forces in Japan making directions? I can't imagine how it will be wrong for this waste and Abe administration policy twill impoverfuture impoverish Japan. I don't know how to be in positive mindset few people in Japan have no idea the reality, from national bonds to be framed year by year the governmental budget, plus natural disasters going wider, wow, I don't want to imagine...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yes, that's really good for us private owned companies to get those lucrative contracts and keep what few skilled workforce we can hire to get the jobs done.  I feel if that is what it takes then good, because as an employer I am keeping our economy and a paycheck to employees to support their families.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Tough to justify since the NK bogeyman is totally deflating"

But Little Rocket Man is so totally not deflating, remember, he's completely fooled the orange clown.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

I would like to have the J-Govt. explain exactly what it's China Policy is. On one hand they say China is an important economic/trading partner but on the other hand they say China is a huge military threat. Which one is it? Japan is one of the largest reasons that China's economy became so large which has made it possible for China to expand it's military spending. The Japanese Govt. contributed to and is still contributing to China's military buildup and now they say that Japan must greatly increase it's defense spending to counter China's military buildup which Japan helped to create. Japan sent Japanese jobs and technology to China and now they want to take more of the taxpayers money to spend on weapons to defend it from China.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Damn China

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan has the worlds highest debts, who is going to be paying for that.. oh us tax payers..

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It's easy to condemn surging Japanese defence budget, but it's important to realistically see that Japan needs to oversee China, whose military spending is expected to be still 4 times larger ($174.5 billion, evidence is as below). Furthermore, North Korea has not, and probably will not completely withdraw nuclear weapons.

Probably the easiest way for Japan to curtail military spending is to possess nuclear armaments - China and NK has it anyway - but such a radical method would cause a big national debate, conflict with neighbours, and even negotiation with the US.

I don't want arms race, but I don't want military imbalance much more.

China’s 2018 Military Budget: New Numbers, Old Worries @Diplomat_APAC http://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-2018-military-budget-new-numbers-old-worries/

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That’s a lot of money to spend on weapons for a so called ‘pacifist’ country, don’t you think? Is it a coincidence this record military budget comes in the same year they plan change the constitution? Hm, I think not.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

It just does not make sence, defend a aging population? A country devoid of natural resources? A population taxed into poverty. Who would lust after such a gift? But Shinzo has an agenda that has no actual grounding in reality.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So, the fiscal situation in Japan is "severe", but they have all this money to spend on defense, despite being defended, they have heaps of money to give third-world countries, despite having none and having to raise taxes, they have heaps of money to buy airplanes solely for Foreign Ministry use, and on, and on.

But hey, the tax increases next year "can't be helped".

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Japan's neighbours are a nutcase with nuclear missiles and a hatred for Japan, and a bunch of psychotic totalitarians with nuclear missiles and a hatred for Japan. And yet some people question this proposal to spend more money on defence. You guys really need to start thinking straight.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

I don't understand. Our US written constitution forbids ever having a military. That's why we pay 70 to 80% of the cost of the US military in Japan (unlike what Trump said, it is not "free"). Is the US military actually not capable of defending Japan? And is this amount of money less than 1% of the GDP, which it has been historically to assure our neighbors the we will not attempt to conquer Asia again?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

No surprise. Trump told them to do it. And, US arms contractors are first in line. Likely, not even in line. Just there. Thanks for the money!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

since the NK bogeyman is totally deflating.

You mean the same North Korea that just released a statement that they consider Japan a threat? Or the same North Korea that is still working on their nuclear weapon program despite promises to do the opposite? Yeah, they are totally deflating.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

Japan's population is just over 1/3 of the USA..... bit its Military Budget is about 1/15. Japans taxes are high... where is all the tax money going?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Really good news to wake up to, and amazing photo. It is vital to update Military, especially Missile Defenses, as it has never been more dangerous to be in Japan for 73 years. Missiles are aimed here by North Korea. And USA produces the best weapons and systems in the world.

Ready for Peace. Prepared for war.

-15 ( +4 / -19 )

I just cannot understand why Japanese people keeps voting for a government that says there's no money for education, kids or health expenses, yet they want to spend ¥5.3 trillion on weaponry.

As important as those all are, none of it matters if you can't defend yourself.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

I just cannot understand why Japanese people keeps voting for a government that says there's no money for education, kids or health expenses, yet they want to spend ¥5.3 trillion on weaponry.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Here is the dilemma for all the folks who are against the US troops in Japan.

Which would you rather see; a Japan that goes bankrupt from defense spending within 10 years, or 5 years after kicking the US out, and having to spend 10 to 100 times more on defense?

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

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