Cabinet OKs record ¥8.7 tril defense budget as it pushes strike-back capability

The Japanese cabinet on Friday approved a record 8.7 trillion yen defense budget for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles

Absolutely the right move as it almost seems like missiles are the only thing China/russia understands.

A move necessitated by the autocratic nations choosing to disregard the rule of law and re-write the world order. Japan is just one of many democratic nations that have been forced to upgrade their defense capabilities.

Article mentions Russia in the very first sentence. One would be completely naive to think Moscow will not consider and counter this offensive threat, and overall military buildup, which could be aimed at sovereign UN-recognized territory of the Russian Federation, including certain islands. The recently tested one is the obvious candidate.

Well, there goes my National Health and National Pension payments going up. I don't want to help fund this.

Under the defense strategy, Japan aims to eventually double its annual military spending to around 10 trillion yen, making it the world’s No. 3 military spender after the United States and China.

So much for "pacifist" Japan. Being a loyal vassal state is getting very expensive.

Speed

100% agree! A total waste of your money and mine when there are far more important issues Japan has I would rather my money goes to.

Already I have plans in place to close down my company here that employed a number of Japanese people who will lose their jobs and move it to another country.

This current government announced last week that taxes will increase from April 2026 to pay for this waste of money defense budget & I will not be part of it. This time next year I will be having my farewell party and looking forward to it.

JJEToday 05:12 pm JST

Article mentions Russia in the very first sentence. One would be completely naive to think Moscow will not consider and counter this offensive threat, and overall military buildup, which could be aimed at sovereign UN-recognized territory of the Russian Federation, including certain islands. The recently tested one is the obvious candidate.

Is russia going to waste even more of its gdp on the military?

"Germany’s MEKO A-200 is a new version of the RAN’s Anzac frigate."

"It features a modular design that can easily adapt to meet Australian requirements and is expected to be cheaper than Japan’s initial proposed price."

"The latest version of the Mogami frigate is considered one of the world’s leading warship designs."  

"Earlier this year, RAN chief vice-admiral Mark Hammond commended Japan’s shipbuilding capacity, but many within the service prefer sticking with German-built vessels, with which Australia is already more familiar."

"It has been nearly 50 years since Australia last built a warship outside of its shipyards. According to defence sources, discussions are underway to potentially build six GPFs overseas."

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/australia-general-purpose-frigate-contract/?cf-view

Mr. Kipling -

So much for "pacifist" Japan. Being a loyal vassal state is getting very expensive.

Japan is not going to be a sitting duck in a region where three of her neighbours are totalitarian and constantly threatening. Defence is not free.

Funny that we don't see you criticising Russia for spending 30 percent of government annual budget on war.

Think about it. Moscow's new road mobile toy can conventionally neutralize entire bases, controversial installations, industrial districts and airfields etc: you name it. Everywhere in western Europe is exposed including the Isles. Spinning it around 180° is a no-brainer. Watch.

Wouldn't be surprised if Beijing has submitted an expression of interest, if not placed a placed an order discretely.

If Japan is to be successful in its bid to sell upgraded Mogami frigates to Australia, it must ensure that build times are fast and ensure it is not "just saying" it will meet timetables set by Australia for the first delivery in 2029. It must lower its initial price to be more competitive with the German MEKO A-200 and most importantly is to send a Mogami class frigate on an extended visit to Australia to allow Australian navy brass to sail on her during exercises and see it in action, for a few months deployment if necessary.

Spain had a successful bid for supply vessels with Australia by sending one to Australia to use for a period of time to see what it could do and to become familiar with them. It worked.

Australia has decades of knowledge and experience operating the MEKO-200ANZ class which are being decommissioned in the coming decade, So Japan must do what it can to familiarize the RAN with the Mogami class. If it sends one, doing things like ensuring signage throughout the ship has dual Japanese/English labels so that familiarization is smoother and with much less chance of not fully understanding machinery functions, safety instructions and a whole host of things in between. Make them feel as at home on a Mogami as they are on the MEKO's.

Germany and Japan are equally known for making quality products, and the Mogami is the most up to date design being offered. Japan needs to make its offer stand out and above what Germany is offering.

With Australia and Japan looking at even closer ties, perhaps to become fully fledged allies in the future, having a class of ship that is common to both nations navies as they both have F-35 aircraft in common, would be sensible and helpful to both nations. Perhaps thinking along those lines could help persuade Japan to lower its prices and help Australia make the right choice, to buy the ships from Japan.

Pacifist Japan, no more.

Population is dwindling so fast there are not enough military personnel to manage the existing equipment.

What country would invade Japan ever for ? This is non-sense.

JJEToday 05:40 pm JST

Think about it. Moscow's new road mobile toy can conventionally neutralize entire bases, controversial installations, industrial districts and airfields etc: you name it. Everywhere in western Europe is exposed including the Isles. Spinning it around 180° is a no-brainer. Watch.

Even sparsely populated russia does not want its largest cities to go up in flames.

Wouldn't be surprised if Beijing has submitted an expression of interest, if not placed a placed an order discretely.

If they haven't copied whatever poor missile design is being referenced, they are being negligent.

Mr KiplingToday 05:21 pm JST

So much for "pacifist" Japan.

Pacifist Japan got islands stolen from it. Time to try something else.

The overexploitation of colonies provided a solid stable source of wealth for the colonists in past centuries. This is just the modern version with those justifying it continue to support colonialism.

We must let Japan know that they are in grave danger with Russia and China as neighbors, but if they hand over trillions in yen, everything will be okay.

Japan is not going to be a sitting duck in a region where three of her neighbours are totalitarian and constantly threatening. Defence is not free.

Japan is a sitting duck even with this drop in a bucket of water budget. China and Russia will bleed Japan continuously with the U.S. Such is life.

Great. More money for the American military industrial complex. As someone once said, the whole point is not to stop wars, but to keep them going on and on and on so that certain people can make money. And to do this, they need to create boogeymen, create divisions, false flags and control the mainstream media. The biggest problem is the number of stupid ignorant people who buy into all this and happy to fritter away their taxes.

TaiwanChina:

Pacifist Japan got islands stolen from it.

To be honest, Okinawa wasn't Japanese in the first place.

These expenses would be a waste if there were no frequent violations of our territorial waters and airspace by China and Russia, no abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea, no invasion of Takeshima by South Korea, no invasion of the Senkaku Islands by China, and no invasion of the Northern Territories by Russia.

The invasion of Takeshima by South Korea in particular occurred at a time when there was no Japan-US Security Treaty and no Self-Defense Forces. In other words, it is difficult to protect Japan without military power.

Okinawa once again belonged to Japan after a referendum after World War II. We cannot ignore that.

We live in the real world, not a utopia.

Pacifist Japan got islands stolen from it. Time to try something else.

Sadly, aggressive Japan lost some islands when it lost a war in 1945. The US returned some of Okinawa in 1971.

What country would invade Japan ever for ? This is non-sense.

Correct, but it's not really about protecting Japan. It is all about aiding the US to threaten China.

Total waste of money!

What's the point? Spending all this money to defend, what? A country that's bankrupt because it's spent all and everything on defence?

That's great. Expect another batch of taxes raise, and possible VAT too. Those money needs to come from somewhere...

Alingdortheride - you are doing absolutely the right thing

Pukey2 Today 07:35 pm JST

TaiwanChina:

Pacifist Japan got islands stolen from it.

To be honest, Okinawa wasn't Japanese in the first place.

Then Tibet, Taiwan, Ladakh, Bhutan and Philippines sea doesn't belong to china in the first place.

Good muscle up there are serious threats in the region everything costs and taxes will go up but for the safety net this will provide us that’s fine with me. Taxes go up always have always will if your relying on the pension system here for retirement obviously you have not thought that out enough.

practical content of "strike-back capability" what LDP regime named it so is nothing but preemptive strike, it's clearly constitutional violation.

And, present Japanese general citizen have no money that can burden for profit of arms industries anymore.

You hear that china ?

Hear what?

Fighto!

Sitting ducks?!

Japan has had an agreement with the USA for exactly this since the late 40's!

If it turns to custard the USA has an obligation to step in! Why spend this total waste of MY money on this rubbish when there are far better things to spend it on?!!

Dear Japan..

Your own people doesn't need weapons..

Your own people need resources and solutions for their economic problems and in order to get a better way of life..

Don't fall in the dirty trick of geopolitical whims of US..

Absolutely the right move as it almost seems like missiles are the only thing China/russia understands.

The usual pathetic excuse of regular warmongering lsrs..

Again, too much Rambo movies in that little head..

Spend the money on elderly and children in need instead you ruddy twits.

Mr KiplingDec. 27 07:52 pm JST

Pacifist Japan got islands stolen from it. Time to try something else.

Sadly, aggressive Japan lost some islands when it lost a war in 1945. The US returned some of Okinawa in 1971.

The US returned 100% of Okinawa along with a treaty for the usage of the bases that can be ended by either side. Meanwhile russia felt like it could just ignore Japan during its period of pacifism and not return what it stole.

Diplomacy in Asia is totally kidnapped by the US military-industrial complex which incites geopolitical tensions through the constant hype of the "Russian menace” and the "China threat”. Behind the growth of arms sales, the US has created or intensified conflicts and crises in different regions of the world, forcing other countries to increase their budgets and buy US weapons to better serve the interests of the military.

The anti-Beijing hysteria is clearly being led by the United States which is not concerned that China will attack other countries, but is worried that its world hegemony is being challenged.

Just as a reminder once again, to put into contest what is going on, with Wall Street on all time high despite the geopolitical instability.

FosToday 09:21 am JST

Diplomacy in Asia is totally kidnapped by the US military-industrial complex which incites geopolitical tensions through the constant hype of the "Russian menace” and the "China threat”. Behind the growth of arms sales, the US has created or intensified conflicts and crises in different regions of the world, forcing other countries to increase their budgets and buy US weapons to better serve the interests of the military.

Isn't that quite interesting that countries line up to spend spend spend. It's almost like russia and China are actual threats despite the gaslighting.

TokyoLiving

Dear Japan. Your own people doesn't need weapons.. 

Your own people need resources and solutions for their economic problems and in order to get a better way of life. Don't fall in the dirty trick of geopolitical whims of US.

We are all on board with that, but as you know the usual suspects are employed to bring a different type of narrative.

As a reminder that the United States is by any measure the most aggressive and violent country in the world and will not accept a multi-polar world where countries large and small can live in peace together.

China has not been engaged in military activity for the past forty years. In that time, the US has overthrown numerous governments and illegally invaded many countries.

"Cabinet OKs record ¥8.7 tril defense budget as it pushes strike-back capability."

Close, but not sufficient enough to secure the land of the Rising Sun.

Cephus

History books, not China or Russia propaganda tell us the United States is by any measure the most aggressive and violent country in the world and will not accept a multi-polar world where countries large and small can live in peace together. 

The only military risk that we face from China is if we continue as a proxy for the US in its endless wars.

China has not been engaged in military activity for the past forty years. In that time, the US has overthrown numerous governments and illegally invaded many countries.

Key conflicts include:

Gulf War (1990-1991) - A coalition operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) - Initiated in response to the September 11 attacks.

Iraq War (2003-2011) - Aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein's regime, with a prolonged occupation afterward.

Interventions in Libya (2011) - Involved airstrikes during the civil unrest.

Ongoing operations against ISIS (2014-present) - Involves military action in Iraq, Middle East, Yemen and Syria.

Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (who represent the great powers), only one has not fought a war in 40 years: China.

I advice to give priority to history book rather than US military dispatches

Fos,

I have a simpler motto, only when "every nation puts its people first" we will be able to see the end of these needless wars. However, to be fair we can't just look on the negatives, but also look on the positives the US has contributed to the world which out ways the negatives. After all being the only Super Power in the world it's not surprising we expect more from the US government regardless who leads it.

What country would invade Japan ever for ? This is non-sense

China. If they succeed taking Taiwan then Okinawa is next. Don't be naive. If US forces leave Japan, the seats in the chow hall won't even be cold before PLA butts are sitting in them.

History books, not China or Russia propaganda tell us the United States is by any measure the most aggressive and violent country in the world and will not accept a multi-polar world where countries large and small can live in peace together. 

Nobody is fooled by your rhetoric. It isn't the US trying to re-establish the Middle Kingdom and force all its neighbors into a tributary state relationship with China. Japan and its neighbors are arming up because of the behavior of China. Quit shilling for a dictator. China has an amphibious warfare capability beyond anything the USSR or the Royal Navy ever had. They can put division size forces on distant shores. No other military but the US can do that today. And Chinese propaganda makes claims to Japanese territory including the Ryukyus, which they call "Japanese occupied".

No other military but the US can do that today. 

That is the main question: who is asking you to do it? Apart from the US big industrial military complex, which:

1) does not belong to Asia as China does

2) it has created too many catastrophes already, as we speak, in Eastern Europe and Middle East, with tens of thousands of deaths

The history of U.S. foreign policy shows that the Washington will strongly confront superpowers antagonistic to it — the United Kingdom during the American Revolution, Germany during the two world wars and the Soviet Union after World War II. If the United States sees China as a threat to its hegemony, it will confront the Chinese. Just as the United Kingdom was a vital ally for the United States when it was at odds first with Germany and later with the Soviet Union across the Atlantic, so now is the United States’ alliance with Japan crucial for the country.

I say it again: history books, do not quote US military dispatches. We do not need more deaths in this continent to please the American warlords in Wall Street

FosToday 03:20 pm JST

No other military but the US can do that today. 

That is the main question: who is asking you to do it?

The 24 million people in Taiwan are asking the US to do that, or at least have the capability to do that.

FosToday 01:56 pm JST

History books, not China or Russia propaganda tell us the United States is by any measure the most aggressive and violent country in the world and will not accept a multi-polar world where countries large and small can live in peace together.

And yet it is China's dog russia that launched an illegal invasion because it is unable to live in world in which it isn't a superpower anymore.