Japan to set up expert panel on financing defense cost rise

The obvious answer to the question who pays?

Look in the mirror…

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration will aim to strike the right balance between beefing up Japan's defense capabilities and maintaining fiscal discipline.

Never worried about fiscal discipline before what’s changed?

Japan's defense spending to 2 percent or more of gross domestic product -- a level on a par with North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states -- for the next five years.

‘That’s ok when you have a healthy economy.

Kishida also told reporters that overhauling Japan's defense capabilities is the most important issue for the rest of the year, 

I thought pay rises and the “new capitalism” was the priority, talk about flip flop.

The panel will consist of experts well-versed in defense policy or public finance and some related ministers -- Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, along with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, 

There is a dead end. Well versed? On what planet is a career politician well versed to make defence procurement decisions. Where is the military generals? They know what they need, All that will come of this is the army getting new Ascot neck scarves.

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the right balance between beefing up Japan's defense capabilities and maintaining fiscal discipline.

That means less money in the budget for schools and healthcare, more for weapons and soldiers.

Well, the assumption here is that Japan is planning to defend itself. given China and Russia's aggressive moves, I agree with this policy.

Is this an issue? Usually just increase govt debt like before and those debt just keep increasing

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/10/business/economy-business/japan-debt-balance-record/

Obladi,the Russian have already got Hokkaido region under missile control coverage,when they deployed their S 400 on these disputed island

No need to set up an “expert” panel. Just issue government bonds to pay for the planned defense budget increase. That’s what other countries that can print their own sovereign currencies are doing.

 Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, along with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno

All of these "experts" are political appointees of Kishida to his cabinet. Their actual qualifications, other than their positions SHOULD matter, but alas, as things typically are here, the true "experts" are hardly ever chosen, as they would be uncontrollable.

Blame China, NK and Fascist Russia for this.

Most reasonable minded people would be prepared to pay a temporary defense tax of say 1.5% of income, for 5 years, to beef up defense. The consequences of Japan sitting on the her hands and doing nothing - with so many enemies ramping up threats - is unthinkable.

This should take a few decades to resolve with meeting after meeting after meeting and setting up another amazing sub-committee to address the details of the agenda where a council will be arranged to counter the Vice Chair's question as to when the new session begins? And to what end will the final thoughts be balanced with Japan's Constitutional Agreement?

@Fighto no we would NOT be willing to fund 1.5 % of our already dwindling / stagnant incomes on u.s bombs..No!

Answer, charge rent for US bases and get them to pay for the contamination of Japanese soil from bases.

The reason China has been able to expand its military so quickly is high economic growth over the past 3 decades. If Japan is truly serious about wanting to keep pace with China in this area, the Japanese government and business community needs to find ways to grow at a minimum of 2% per year.

Don’t cry beforehand and do some math. 2% of quite a lower GDP due to corona a global recession will turn out not so very much more than 1% of a former very high GDP in a more splendid economic situation.

Easy. Just print more yen like they have for every other "crisis" or "spending need". TAXPAYERS HAVE NO HOPE OF FUNDING THIS THRU TAXES.

here we have US troops,very well paid from our taxes and believe they are here to protect Japan against some invaders/agressors.

same time Japan keeping its JSDF we pay all costs from our taxes as well.so we have double army here.

in situation that no one country is going to attack Japan and Japan is not going to invade any country as well.

questions

why Japan need these new expensive guns rockets than?

if we cowboys here why we need these new guns?

because they are good soldiers only when attacking much weaker country/list of US agressions is endless/ or they are good soldiers just in Hollywood movies/remember Saigon or Afghanistan defeat ?/.

If like that-send cowboys at home to take care about own business at home,leave protection of Japan in japanese hands,than Japan can build real army and use these money saved from cowboys costs to own weaponizing.

or any other thoughts anyone?

Likewise… it is a head scratcher that, whilst they have been running annual deficits upwards of 40 trillion a year for yonks now, but now they want to have some expert meetings to figure out where to get an extra 5 trillion from.

Where do they think the quadrillion of debt already accumulated came from?

Do they think 40 extra debt each year is acceptable, but 45 trillion would not be?

There is no “fiscal discipline” to be maintained.

Rather, it they were to seriously seek to establish some fiscal discipline, that would be news.

Option 1 : Cut welfare

Option 2 : Raise taxes

Option 3 : Sell more bonds

As contrary as it may seem, I would be happy for my Kids to join the JSDF, and if called upon, I'd do so too in order to defend this Land, (in the current way that it stands) - though ... that said, should Japan revert to the ways of its past, then I would do otherwise, and align myself to it's aggressors. I am both thankful, but wary...