Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Japan considers nearly doubling defence spending over five years
Japan’s government and ruling coalition are considering a 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen defence plan for the five years from April 2027.
That would be about 1.8 times the roughly 43 trillion yen allocated under the current plan, which began in fiscal 2023.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pushing to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities.
The proposed increase could fund purchases including large numbers of drones, while a weaker yen has raised the cost of defence equipment.
Japan’s current programme prioritises long-range missiles for counter-strike capabilities, as well as ammunition and spare parts.
The proposal comes as Japan reviews its security policy amid East Asian tensions.
The final amount remains under discussion and may change as the government prepares its budget and revises three security-related documents.
Japan’s government and ruling coalition are considering nearly doubling defence spending over the five years from April 2027.
The proposed total is 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen, compared with about 43 trillion yen in the current plan.
The figure could change as the government prepares the budget and revises three security-related documents.
One source said the spending is expected to fund purchases including large numbers of drones.
The articles give different dollar estimates: the Straits Times headline says $600 billion, while the Japan Times headline says $500 billion.
- Who
- Japan’s government and ruling coalition are considering the plan.
- What
- They are weighing defence spending of 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen over five years. The figure could still change.
- When
- The proposed five-year period would begin in April 2027.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- The plan is part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Japan’s current five-year defence build-up plan began, with about 43 trillion yen allocated.
The proposed five-year defence spending period would begin.
- Proposed spending
- 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen
- Current plan
- About 43 trillion yen
- Start of proposed period
- April 2027
- Possible purchases
- Large numbers of drones
- Dollar estimates in headlines
- $500 billion in the Japan Times; $600 billion in the Straits Times