"Claims to Possess 'Japan's Counterattack Capability'... Frustration Mode Amid 'Enjo'"

Effect of 1 Trillion Yen Reduction in Defense Budget Due to Yen Depreciation
Disruption in Purchase Plans for Seaplanes and Helicopters
Priority Spending Adjusted Toward Missiles
Increase Difficult Amid Cabinet Approval Rating Decline

Japan, which declared it possesses "counterattack capability," has increased its defense budget to 43.5 trillion yen over five years, but it is expected that the cost of weapon imports will rise by about 1 trillion yen due to the direct impact of the weak yen. As a result, doubts are being raised about whether the Japanese government can actually secure counterattack capabilities, as it is unable to properly procure the necessary weapons.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Major foreign media outlets, citing anonymous military sources, reported that the Japanese government revised its existing defense budget (national defense budget) enhancement plan due to the depreciation of the yen. Initially, the Japanese government assumed an exchange rate of 108 yen per dollar and allocated a budget of 43.5 trillion yen over five years. However, within just 11 months, the yen-dollar exchange rate surpassed the 150 yen level, causing disruptions in the weapon procurement plan. Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reported that the sharp rise in the exchange rate effectively reduced the government’s budget by about 1 trillion yen.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the Defense Agency, is said to have scaled back its purchase plans considering the impact of the weak yen. An anonymous defense-related source revealed that the Ministry recently discussed reducing the number of Chinook heavy transport helicopters from the original 34 units to 17 units. When the Ministry set the purchase plan last December, the import cost per helicopter was only 15 billion yen, but within 11 months, the cost per unit increased by 5 billion yen. A source related to the Ministry of Defense explained to major foreign media, "About half of the cost increase is due to the weak yen."

In addition, the Ministry of Defense reportedly canceled plans to purchase two seaplanes from the Japanese defense company Shinmei. The price of the seaplanes nearly doubled compared to three years ago, reaching close to 30 billion yen, causing difficulties in budget procurement. Inflation and the weak yen drove the price increase of the seaplanes.

As the goal of increasing defense capabilities faces the risk of being thwarted, the Ministry of Defense has begun devising measures to minimize the damage caused by the weak yen. In particular, it has proactively started securing long-range missiles to maintain counterattack capabilities. According to major foreign media, the Ministry prioritized spending on the most advanced U.S. weapons that can be deployed at the front lines, such as Tomahawk missiles.

Counterattack capability refers to the ability to strike enemy missile bases from long distances in case of emergency. Until now, Japan has only been able to possess military forces capable of defending against enemy threats based on the "exclusive defense" principle under its pacifist constitution. Since Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range missiles capable of striking enemies from afar, they are essential weapons that Japan must secure to have the ability to conduct preemptive strikes.

However, considering the current political situation in Japan, the prevailing opinion is that further reductions in weapon procurement plans are inevitable. It is expected that the Kishida Cabinet, struggling with declining approval ratings, will find it difficult to accept additional increases in the defense budget for weapon procurement.

Major foreign media reported, "Japan’s defense industry association is opposing the reduction in weapon purchase plans and is demanding that additional military procurement funds be included in the budget currently submitted to the National Diet," adding, "From Prime Minister Kishida’s perspective, it is expected that he will choose to reduce weapon purchase plans rather than persuade taxpayers to accept the increase."

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