Key Takeaway:
- Japan adds $6.75 billion to its record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defenses as it becomes concerned about threats by North Korea and China.
- Three months earlier than planned, the cash injection will let Japan improve base to air missile launchers on islands at the edge of the East China Sea.
Japan adds $6.75 billion to its record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defenses as it becomes concerned about threats by North Korea and China.
PM Fumio Kishida’s gov on Friday approved the outlay as part of a budget. Additions to defense spending are very common; the 774 billion lawmakers will be asked to support the most considerable amount.
“As the security environment around Japan worsens at speed, our urgent task is to accelerate the implementation of many projects,” the defense ministry said in its spending proposal.
Three months earlier than planned, the cash injection will let Japan improve base to air missile launchers on islands at the edge of the East China Sea. These Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries are the last line of defense against North Korean warheads.
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China’s pressure on Taiwan is causing jitters in Japan because Beijing’s control of the island will bring Chinese forces within around 100 kilometers of its territory and threaten critical trade routes that supply Japan with oil. It will also provide China with bases for unfettered access to the Pacific.
The extra money will also let Japan more quickly acquire anti-submarine missiles, patrol planes, and military cargo jets, the defense ministry said.
In October, the additional military outlay comes after Kishida’s ruling party included a goal of doubling defense spending to 2% of (GDP) in election pledges.
For decades, the nation has stuck to keeping defense spending within 1% of GDP, easing concern at the house and overseas about any revival of the militarism that led Japan into WWII.
The supplemental spending combined with defense outlays approved for the year to March 31 comes to about 1.3% of Japan’s GDP.
($1 = 114.6300 yen)
Source-CTV News
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