Japan has approved record levels of defense spending in a major shift from its postwar approach to military spending. Japan will also loosened arms export controls for the first time in nearly a decade.

Japan’s defense spending will increase by more than 16% next year under a record military budget.

With Japan facing a regional threat in the shape of North Korea, the cash injection is intended to accelerate the deployment of long-range cruise missiles.

The budget adopted by the Cabinet also will further fortify the military with F-35 stealth combat jets and other American weapons as Japanese troops increasingly work with allies and take on more offensive roles.

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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    With Japan facing a regional threat in the shape of North Korea, the cash injection is intended to accelerate the deployment of long-range cruise missiles.

    The budget adopted by the Cabinet also will further fortify the military with F-35 stealth combat jets and other American weapons as Japanese troops increasingly work with allies and take on more offensive roles.

    The announcement signals a major break from Japan’s postwar principle of limiting the country’s use of force to self-defense.

    Germany, another major defeated power in World War II, has also been looking to expand its military spending and activities for the modern era in recent decades.

    The most recent and major catalyst to this process, which began with deployments in places like Kosovo and Afghanistan, was  Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after which Germany has increased its defense budget, reaching a total spend of just over €60 billion (if including supplementary funds not in the government’s main budget) in 2023.

    The Japanese Foreign Ministry said the change would contribute to reinforce the bilateral security cooperation and the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific, but opponents said it would let Japanese-made weapons help in escalating conflicts.


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