Japan Approves Record Defense Spending Bill

**Aanker** · January 14, 2015, 05:46 PM

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been - for some time now - pushing for larger defense budgets and reforms in the way Japan's armed forces may be used.

And yesterday, the nation approved its largest defense budget to date:
http://time.com/3666723/japan-cabine...-eye-on-china/ (note that in the feature picture, everybody's favourite fighter jet is featured)
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2...efense-budget/
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Econ...it-record-high (from Jan 6, but I like reading this Magazine)

To my understanding most of the budget goes towards acquiring more advanced troop transport, fighter and drone aircraft (as well as amphibious vehicles) with the ultimate goal of protecting Japanese maritime claims.

This is of course not completely surprising and is part of a wider buildup of forces in the region in response to the rather bold claims made by China. The question is to what extent it will actually deter the Chinese, and if a Japanese buildup risks raising tensions with other nations if the adequate measures to ensure cooperation with these are not taken. I think the U.S. is only too happy to see its allies do their part of the lifting, and maybe Japan will set an example in the region on how to face the growing regional threat, as it is perceived by neighbouring countries, that is China.

**Roma_Victrix** · January 14, 2015, 06:42 PM

I don't think this will give Beijing much of a pause or food for thought. Despite China's recent aggressive moves in claiming islands and even international waters as their own for purposes of oil extraction, such bravado plays a minor backseat role to their "peaceful rise" narrative they always trumpet. When it comes to Vietnam, the Philippines, and even Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, the People's Republic has no qualms playing the role of the big bad bully to secure its national interests and get what it wants. However, let's not kid ourselves, no one, aside from the vocal ultra-nationalists in each respective camp, is in the mood for war. Right now East Asia is enjoying far too much growth and economic prosperity to rock that boat with political instability and real military standoffs. Abe is right to think every nation should be prepared for the worst, and that they can't entirely rely on the US for protection, but this is worst-case scenario thinking that shouldn't be taken too far.

I think further defense spending beyond what is now proposed would be absurd and should be focused on areas of the Japanese economy that are going to hurt due to their demographic problems of an ageing population and low birth rates among the young.

**Condottiere 40K** · January 14, 2015, 09:57 PM

Let's not forget the black budget:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**hellheaven1987** · January 14, 2015, 10:37 PM

Japanese military build-up is not an issue because most around China are building up military too - Vietnam, Philippine, India, Russia, South Korea, you name it.

Only Taiwan cut their military because Taiwanese live in lalaland.

**Treize** · January 15, 2015, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by hellheaven1987

Japanese military build-up is not an issue because most around China are building up military too - Vietnam, Philippine, India, Russia, South Korea, you name it.

Only Taiwan cut their military because Taiwanese live in lalaland.

So when is Taiwan gonna accept their Commie overlords?

**hellheaven1987** · January 15, 2015, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Treize

So when is Taiwan gonna accept their Commie overlords?

Does it matter? For Taiwan the only choice is whether the frontier is east or west, and regardless the island would be mauled very badly anyway.

**Yayattasa** · January 15, 2015, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Aanker

This is of course not completely surprising and is part of a wider buildup of forces in the region in response to the rather bold claims made by China.

That map exists for like 70 years already.

**I WUB PUGS** · January 15, 2015, 12:00 PM

GET SOME!

**Captain Jin** · January 15, 2015, 12:44 PM

They should increase their military expenditure. Right now Japanese doctrine actually relies heavily on the US for national defense. Not to say that an invasion of Japan is realistic at all, but their plans were always just to delay whoever invaded them (China) long enough for the US to get into the game.

**trance** · January 15, 2015, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Jin

They should increase their military expenditure. Right now Japanese doctrine actually relies heavily on the US for national defense. Not to say that an invasion of Japan is realistic at all, but their plans were always just to delay whoever invaded them (China) long enough for the US to get into the game.

That's because everyone and their mother are relying on magic U.S aid if anybody would so much as fart in their respective direction. It's fun to see the other authoritarian state starting dickwaving in its respective geopolitical area. Is this an infectious disease?

**The Alcotroll** · January 15, 2015, 03:37 PM

Increasing the budget is all well and good- increasing recruitment is another thing entirely. I'm assuming there's a manpower drive to go with the shiny new toys, and I'll be interested to see if numbers actually increase.

**Gertrudius** · January 15, 2015, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by The Alcotroll

Increasing the budget is all well and good- increasing recruitment is another thing entirely. I'm assuming there's a manpower drive to go with the shiny new toys, and I'll be interested to see if numbers actually increase.

The recruitment aspect also caught my attention. My understanding is that the JSDF already has a hard time competing with the private sector in their recruitment.

**The Alcotroll** · January 15, 2015, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Gertrudius

The recruitment aspect also caught my attention. My understanding is that the JSDF already has a hard time competing with the private sector in their recruitment.

The UK is certainly having a hard time finding enough pulses to put into uniform. Competition with the private sector is one thing, but from having been on the recruiting treadmill myself, I reckon the sheer spineless uselessness of many of my countrymen has something to do with it.

At risk of stereotyping, I'm wondering if there's much enthusiasm for military service amongst the military-age demographic in Japan.

**Poach** · January 15, 2015, 03:59 PM

Are they not doing this because the United States asked them (alongside South Korea) to shoulder more of the burden?

**Chukada1** · January 15, 2015, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Poach

Are they not doing this because the United States asked them (alongside South Korea) to shoulder more of the burden?

Do South Koreans want a larger Japanese military?

**Condottiere 40K** · January 15, 2015, 04:07 PM

You could recruit hikikomori to pilot drones.

Japan has a demographics crunch, so essentially recruitment hasn't suffered if adjusted for that.

**Condottiere 40K** · January 15, 2015, 04:28 PM

They just want their seaswept rocks back.

**Col. Tartleton** · January 15, 2015, 05:10 PM

Given that the global economy and population grows every year I'm going to lump this with every other record increase of anything ever. It doesn't mean much. Even if its a big jump its probably just because they hadn't taken a realistic view of things in a while.

**Condottiere 40K** · January 15, 2015, 10:53 PM

If there's one big guy everyone's overwhelmingly afraid of, nothing tends to happen, and everyone gets on with their goal of getting as rich as possible.

It's called Pax.

**G-Megas-Doux** · January 15, 2015, 11:11 PM

The other side of that is that if everyone is afraid of one person who is by themselves they all go and stab Caesar in the Senate 23 times. That is what having alliances is all about so that there are people to watch your back.