Japan Proposes Record Defense Budget Citing Increased Threats

The Defense Ministry plans to deploy new fighter jets in 2035 to replace its current F-2s. (Photo courtesy of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force)

Japan Times: Japan to seek record defense budget under Suga's continuity policy

The Defense Ministry will seek a budget of over ¥5.4 trillion for fiscal 2021 — another record — government sources said Monday, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga vowed to continue with his predecessor’s policy of bolstering Japan’s capabilities in new domains.

The seventh consecutive year of all-time high requests compares with the ¥5.31 trillion sought in the ministry’s initial budget for the year ending in March. The plan comes amid growing concerns about the country’s fiscal health, the worst among major economies, with over ¥1.1 quadrillion worth of public debt. In fiscal 2020, the new government debt issuance is set to exceed ¥90 trillion to a record high in response to a coronavirus pandemic.

“The Defense Ministry’s request for another modest increase in defense spending reflects the changing understanding of the security challenges Japan is facing and the tools it wishes to acquire to mitigate these challenges,” said Stephen Nagy, a senior associate professor at International Christian University in Tokyo.

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Update #1: Japan's Defense Ministry eyes record $51.6bn in spending under Suga (Nikkei Asian Review)
Update #2: Japan proposes $51B defense budget, citing increased threats (UPI)

WNU Editor: This is the seventh consecutive year of all-time high requests. I expect this trend to continue.