Komeito chief casts doubt on LDP's plan to increase defense spending

Yeah, we're talking about the loony LDP who wants to restore Japan's empire no matter the social cost.

Well, I never thought I would ever agree with any Komeito ideas. Sounds like fair thing though

"As the birth rate declines and the population ages, we will need to put more resources toward social security and education," Natsuo Yamaguchi said in a group interview. "The public will not accept it if only defense spending suddenly doubles."

Lets see if Mr. Yamaguchi has the stones to pull his group from the coalition if the LDP tries to go ahead with this huge waste of tax money. If the CDP wins more seats and makes the majority perilously close, then Komeito can wield power and stop Kishida.

And tomorrow a back track, misunderstanding. As a political party based on pacifist ideals they will now support getting the biggest weapons the LDP can get. Sorry for the confusion.

Cricky - butter on the toast.

Komeito's supporter base is Soka Gakkai and both share common themes of antiwar/pacifist ideals, small national government, more power for local government and adhering to a general core of humanitarian principles.

But in this twisted world of domestic politics LDP can squeeze the beegeezus out of anyone, and wimpy weasley Yamaguchi just follows orders. He should be calling out Kishida big time, but no.

Talk about a betrayal of members if there ever was.

It is cheaper to be prepared to fight off Chinese aggression than it would be to try to retake land lost when you were not prepared to fight.

zichiToday  10:12 am JST

The country needs a strong military to defend itself. 

A strong military needs competent leadership, which I do not trust the LDP to provide.

The demands are not wrong, but completely excluding potential threats from outside in the midterm future. For example, if Chinese troops patrol in Tokyo’s streets, Russians invade starting from Hokkaido, Koreans take some steps on Niigata or Tsushima and climate change affected millions of boat people invade from the South, then it’s too late and even a higher birth rate, splendidly redeveloped social security and highly educated people are of not so much use anymore at all. Maybe a bit pessimistic, admitted, but in fact, all fields have to be financed, a difficult but necessary balancing, because always coming into effect only the best idealistic and most peaceful scenario is rather improbable too. Daydreaming and chanting doesn’t solve all problems…

Japan's current defense budget is $4.6618 trillion or 0.94% of its GDP, ranking the 9th among nations in terms of military spending. If the percentage doubled to 2.0%, then Japan's defense budget will become more than $9.4 trillion, making it the third largest after the U.S. and China, budget-wise. What does it mean? It means nothing but nonsense. The money should be spent for social welfare and education.