Japan military seeks record budget amid regional threats

Japan's Defence Ministry is seeking a record-high budget of nearly 5.5 trillion yen ($55 billion) for fiscal 2021 to fund more purchases of costly American stealth fighters and expand its capability to counter possible threats in both cyber and outer . budget request me public Wednesday is first under new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and would be an 8% increase from current year, signalling a continuation of his hawkish predecessor Shinzo Abe's security policy. Japan's defence spending has risen for eight consecutive years since 2013, a year after Abe took office.

rise in spending came as Abe pushed for Japan's Self-Defence Force to expand its international role and capability amid threats from rth Korea and China, both tritional and ntritional. Japan also faced demands from President Donald Trump that US allies increase defense spending, which Japan did in part with costly American weapons purchases that also bolster weapons compatibility with American forces.

Purchases for missile deterrence are among most costly items in proposed 2021 budget and include Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35B stealth fighters capable of short takeoff and vertical landing for 26 billion yen ($246 million). Japan has plans to acquire 42 F-35Bs in coming years.

To accommodate F-35Bs, Defence Ministry is seeking 3.2 billion yen ($30 million) to reconfigure one of its two helicopter carriers, Kaga, with a heat-resistant flight deck. or flat-top Izumo has also been configured. ministry is also seeking 58.7 billion yen ($556 million) for research into developing next-generation fighter jets to replace F-2s retiring in 2030s. Japan plans to develop its own engine but is also considering co-developing some or parts with US and Britain.

Japan's costly purchase of American weapons has helped reduce its tre surplus with US but has raised concerns at home that it will set back its fledgling local defence industry. 2021 budget request includes funding for less tritional defense such as research and operation of and cyber units, as well as for new electromagnetic warfare units.

electromagnetic unit would be hequartered at Ground Self-Defence Force's Asaka base, rth of Tokyo, and an unspecified number of staff would be deployed at several army bases across country by March 2022, mostly in sourn Japanese islands including Okinawa areas of increased Chinese maritime and air activity.

mission of such a unit would be to block electromagnetic attacks that could disrupt thing such as rio and GPS functions. ministry is requesting 7 billion yen ($66 million) to purchase RC-2 reconnaissance plane, and about 23 billion yen ($218 million) for research into surveillance systems to counter electromagnetic attacks by drones and or weapons.

Japan in May launched Operations Squron as part of Air Self-Defence Force, with 20 initial members. It is expected to grow to about 100 members once unit is fully operational in 2023. unit is tasked with monitoring and protecting Japanese satellites from enemy attacks or debris. It will also conduct satellite-based navigation and communications for or troops in field.

ministry will launch a commanding unit in western Tokyo and staff size will be increased to 70 next year. It is seeking more than 72 billion yen ($680 million) to design and launch a surveillance satellite and develop and purchase equipment compatible with US.

requested budget could rise even higher as ministry has requested an unspecified amount for alternative to land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system, which government scrapped in June because of technical issues. Defence officials are considering three off-shore options, including use of destroyers, with a decision to be me later in year.

Following Aegis Ashore cancellation, Abe instructed government to study a major change to its missile deterrence policy and seek possibility of developing a first-strike capability on enemy bases to defend against imminent attacks amid rising missile threats in region. Suga's government is expected to compile a new plan later this year. Abe in 2015 reinterpreted Japan's pacifist constitution to allow use of force in depending itself and its allies. Japan's defense spending w ranks among world's top 10, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.  

(Im Credits: AP)

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