Japan’s Cabinet OKs record defense budget that aims to deter China
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan of more than 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for next year; This plan aims to strengthen counter-attack capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions in the region increase.
The draft budget for fiscal 2026, from April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.
The increase comes as Japan faces a rise Tension from China. Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi He said in November that his country’s army could step in if China took action against Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing says should come under its own rule.
Under pressure from the US for a military increase, Takaichi’s government has vowed to hit the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned. Japan is also planning Ongoing security and defense policy review by December 2026 to further strengthen its army.
Missiles and drones will contribute to southwestern island defense
Japan is strengthening its strike capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from afar; This is a major departure from the post-World War II principle of limiting the use of force to self-defense.
The current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country’s biggest strategic challenge and calls for Japan’s Self-Defense Force to play a more offensive role within the security alliance with the United States.
The new budget plan allocates more than 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) to support Japan’s “standoff” missile capability. This includes a 177 billion yen ($1.13 billion) purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
The first batch of Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan steps up its missile buildup in the region.
The government believes unmanned weapons are necessary, in part because Japan struggles with an aging and shrinking population and an understaffed military.
To defend the coast, Japan will spend 100 billion yen ($640 million) to deploy “massive” unmanned aerial, sea surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defense under a system called “SHIELD” planned for March 2028, defense ministry officials said.
Japan plans to initially rely mainly on imports, possibly from Türkiye or Israel, for faster deployment.
Tensions rise with China
The budget announcement comes as Japan’s dispute with China escalates after Takaichi said in November that the Japanese military could step in if China took action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.
The dispute escalated further this month when Chinese aircraft carriers conducted exercises in southwestern Japan, prompting protests against Tokyo. They locked their radars on Japanese planesIt is considered a possible preparation for firing missiles.
The Defense Department, already alarmed by the rapid expansion of China’s operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other needs for Japan to deal with China’s Pacific activities.
Two Chinese aircraft carriers It was spotted operating for the first time near Japan’s southern island of Iwo Jima almost simultaneously in June, raising Tokyo’s concerns about its rapidly expanding military activities far beyond Beijing’s borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Takaichi’s government had “visibly accelerated the pace of military build-up and expansion” since taking office.
“Japan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long advocated and is moving in an increasingly dangerous direction,” Lin said. he said.
Japan plans joint development of frigates and jets
After greatly easing arms export restrictions in recent years, Japan has been trying to strengthen its domestic defense industry on a large scale by participating in joint development with friendly countries and promoting foreign sales.
Japan plans to spend more than 160 billion yen ($1 billion) to jointly develop a technology for 2026. new generation fighter plane With UK and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans to research and develop artificial intelligence-powered drones designed to fly in jets.
In a major boost to the country’s defense industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to refurbish its Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.
Japan’s budget allocates about 10 billion yen ($64 million) to support its industrial base and arms sales.
Goals achieved but future funding uncertain
The budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of the 122.3 trillion yen ($784 billion) national budget bill.
The five-year defense development program will increase Japan’s annual spending to about 10 trillion yen ($64 billion), making it the world’s third-largest spender after the United States and China. Japan will exceed the 2% target by March as promised, the Ministry of Finance said.
Takaichi’s government plans to finance its increased military spending by increasing corporate and tobacco taxes, and recently adopted a plan to increase income taxes starting in 2027. Future growth prospects at a higher percentage of GDP are uncertain.
