Japan's Defense Budget for Next Year Expected to Exceed 6 Trillion Yen: "Record High"

Largest Ever Defense Budget at 1% of GDP
Strengthening Defense Amid Security Crises in Neighboring Countries

Japan Self-Defense Forces
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Japan's defense budget for next year is expected to expand to the mid-6 trillion yen range (approximately 63 trillion won), marking the largest scale ever. Japan is citing security crises such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions around the Taiwan Strait as justification to strengthen its defense capabilities, focusing on missile defense systems.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 31st, Japan's Ministry of Defense requested 5.5947 trillion yen for the 2023 fiscal year defense budget, a 3.6% increase compared to the previous year's budget. This is the largest defense budget ever executed by the Japanese government, accounting for 1% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Until now, the Japanese government has maintained a policy of keeping defense spending within 1% of GDP.

The Nihon Keizai reported that the budget request includes about 160 "item requests" that do not specify the required amount, so the final actual budget is expected to increase to 6 trillion yen. Item requests refer to budget items for which cost estimates can only be made at the time of budget execution.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the item requests mainly consist of three pillars: ▲ securing "stand-off" (striking from outside the enemy's threat range) capabilities ▲ defense capabilities for unmanned assets (equipment) ▲ comprehensive missile defense capability acquisition projects.

The problematic part among these is the "stand-off defense capability." The Japanese government plans to increase the range of the "Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Guided Missile" from 200 km to 1,000 km and upgrade it by 2026 so that guided missiles can be launched from land, ships, and aircraft. The reason is to secure the ability to strike from a distance far from the enemy and protect Self-Defense Forces personnel.

However, long-range missiles imply enhanced offensive capabilities to strike enemy bases, leading to criticism that Japan is violating the "exclusive defense" principle based on its pacifist constitution. Currently, Japan is only allowed to possess defensive forces capable of defending against enemy threats.

Kazuo Yamaguchi, leader of the Komeito Party, the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, pointed out, "Weapons that pose offensive threats cannot be considered consistent with the constitutional intent under the exclusive defense ideology." He also expressed opposition to the Kishida Cabinet's push to increase defense spending, saying, "It is not right to increase defense spending while cutting budgets for social security and other fiscal demands."

Japanese media have predicted that the Kishida Cabinet's move could bring significant changes to Japan's traditionally maintained defense policy. With military conflicts escalating with China over the Taiwan Strait, Japan is in a situation where it must enhance its deterrence against China through increased military spending. The Asahi Shimbun expressed concern, stating, "The stance of confronting China's threat with military power is strengthening," and warned, "If Japan relies solely on power, mutual distrust with surrounding countries will deepen, leading to an arms race and escalating accidental conflicts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.