Kishida: Japan to 'fundamentally' strengthen defense in 5 years

[steveluv]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Kishida-Japan-to-fundamentally-strengthen-defense-in-5-years?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20220611090000&seq_num=5&si=44594

Kishida: Japan to 'fundamentally' strengthen defense in 5 years
At Shangri-La Dialogue, PM vows $2bn in Indo-Pacific aid for 'new era' of realism

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers the keynote speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 10.   © Reuters
TSUBASA SURUGA, Nikkei staff writerJune 10, 2022 22:32 JST

SINGAPORE -- Japan will "fundamentally reinforce Japan's defense capabilities within the next five years," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed in Singapore on Friday, delivering a keynote address to open the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit.

Kishida pledged to "secure a substantial increase" in the country's defense budget to back this up, stressing that Japan has adopted a new type of "realism diplomacy for a new era."

His more than 30-minute speech to the forum, where defense ministers and delegates from 42 countries are gathering, came in the shadow of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as China's rise shifts the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

Kishida also promised to provide maritime aid to Indo-Pacific countries -- at least $2 billion over the next three years for maritime security equipment, including patrol vessels, and to support maritime transportation infrastructure.

"We will strengthen our support to each country, utilizing cooperation of the Quad and frameworks of international organizations," he said, referring to Japan's loose security partnership with the U.S., Australia and India.

In May, the Japanese leader had told visiting U.S. President Joe Biden in Tokyo that his government would reinforce Japan's defense capabilities and raise its budget. On Friday, Kishida pointed to the Ukraine war as part of the rationale for doing so.

"I myself have a strong sense that Ukraine today may be the East Asia [of] tomorrow," he said.

"I will seek to build a stable international order through dialogue, not confrontation," he promised. "At the same time, however, we must be prepared for the emergence of an entity that tramples on the peace and security of other countries by force or threat without honoring the rules."

The groundwork for a defense buildup was laid on Tuesday, when the Japanese cabinet approved the first annual economic policy road map since Kishida took office last year. The blueprint for next fiscal year's budget said Japan aims to drastically increase its defense outlays over the next five years, without specifying exactly by how much.

The road map did refer to the defense spending commitment made by NATO members -- 2% of gross domestic product. Japan currently spends close to 1% of its GDP.

While Kishida highlighted the Ukraine war, and did not single out China by name, he alluded to longstanding concerns about Beijing's assertive behavior especially in the maritime domain.

On the South China Sea -- where China has overlapping claims with several Southeast Asian countries -- Kishida said that international law and in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, along with arbitration decisions based on that convention, are not being "complied with."

He went on to warn that "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in violation of international law are continuing."

He also touched on tensions in the Taiwan Strait, saying that "peace and stability" in the waterway are "of extreme importance." Russia's invasion has raised fears of China one day trying to take Taiwan -- which it regards as a renegade province -- by force.

Just ahead of Kishida's speech, the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs had a face-to-face meeting in which they exchanged views on Taiwan.

The Japanese destroyer Inazuma is pictured in the Indian Ocean in 2018: Tokyo intends to ramp up defense spending at a time of high regional tension.   © Reuters

In 2021, Japan's military spending was estimated at a record $54.1 billion, ranking ninth globally. The total came to less than a fifth of China's $293 billion, which ranked second behind only the U.S., at $801 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. India came in third at $76.6 billion.

Still, the rate of increase in Japanese defense spending was notably high, at 7.3% on the year. The government allocated an additional $7 billion to defense in a supplementary budget, resulting in the highest annual growth rate since 1972.

Despite Kishida's insistence on adding muscle to Japan's forces, he also offered reassurance in his speech.

"I stress that Japan's posture as a peace loving nation will remain unchanged," he said. "Our efforts will proceed within the scope of our constitution and in compliance with international law, in a manner that does not alter the basic roles and missions shared between Japan and U.S. under our alliance."

The U.S. and Japan have traditionally divided their roles in their alliance as that of a "spear" and a "shield." Japan has focused on being the shield, or defending Japanese territory, while leaving all attack roles to the U.S.

Some in Washington have been hoping that Japan might expand its role to that of a spear, however short that spear may be, to strengthen deterrence.

Kishida's point that the "roles" will be unchanged is likely an attempt to ease fears that Japan may be speeding ahead too fast, ahead of the upper house elections next month. But his remarks could be met with disappointment stateside.
 

[Sosaria]

From a proud nation now can only become a dog of western powers  I can see the point why they would want to boost their defense (actually meaning gain offensive capabilities) so that they don't have to continue being a dog dependent on their white masters for protection.

Edited June 11, 2022 by Sosaria

[Fitvip]

Japan wants to turn back the clo k to 1942! Japan IS NOT China.

[Voodooman]

1 hour ago, Fitvip said:

Japan wants to turn back the clo k to 1942! Japan IS NOT China.

Don't think so. They are facing a very strong and aggressive China now, the balance of power has shifted.

At least they recognize that and are not as dumb as the Australians. 

[Playtime]

17 minutes ago, Voodooman said:

Don't think so. They are facing a very strong and aggressive China now, the balance of power has shifted.

At least they recognize that and are not as dumb as the Australians. 

Well no one in the asia pac is concerned about Japanese fishing boats or even warships appearing in their waters that's for sure. 

I think Japan and Korea going nuclear isn't as unthinkable as just a few years ago. 

[Fitvip]

21 minutes ago, Voodooman said:

Don't think so. They are facing a very strong and aggressive China now, the balance of power has shifted.

At least they recognize that and are not as dumb as the Australians. 

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

 

[Kb27]

with russia attacking ukraine and china poised to attack taiwan, every country in the world should double their defence budget immediately.

war is coming and the 2 aggressors are getting aggressive.

[Wt_know]

41 minutes ago, Kb27 said:

with russia attacking ukraine and china poised to attack taiwan, every country in the world should double their defence budget immediately.

war is coming and the 2 aggressors are getting aggressive.

during uncertainty time ... big power country like to be "aggressive"

[Cheesey74]

56 minutes ago, Fitvip said:

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

 

i gotta disagree, south china sea is not all their "own" sovereignty, they r just bullying their way thru there.

[Voodooman]

1 hour ago, Fitvip said:

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

 

I kinda disagree. 

 

[Voodooman]

1 hour ago, Playtime said:

Well no one in the asia pac is concerned about Japanese fishing boats or even warships appearing in their waters that's for sure. 

I think Japan and Korea going nuclear isn't as unthinkable as just a few years ago. 

If I am Japan, i will go nuclear. They already have the technology and probably the uranium, just need to put them together. 

[Ingenius]

Japan has to beef up her defense is only because of North Korea. And North Korea is so yaya because of China's support behind. Without China, North Korea would have collapsed long ago. 

[Wt_know]

US and CN both are “invisible hand” for “proxy war” … 

Edited June 11, 2022 by Wt_know

[inlinesix]

1 hour ago, Fitvip said:

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

With its large fleet of navy vessel, I will be wary of CCP ambitions.

By the way, PLA is under CCP. It does not belong to PRC.

[macrosszero]

1 hour ago, Fitvip said:

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

 

Despite a world-standard pr0n industry , Japan hardly has the birthrate to deliver manpower needed for any military conquest

[macrosszero]

1 hour ago, Fitvip said:

They have a record of aggressions, unlike China who just wants to protect her own sovereignty. The Japs are still ambitious.

 

If I say that what you own is actually mine, and I forcefully take it from you with a flimsy reason, am I reclaiming my own property or robbing you?

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, Voodooman said:

If I am Japan, i will go nuclear. They already have the technology and probably the uranium, just need to put them together. 

They call themself JSDF

[Voodooman]

1 minute ago, Thaiyotakamli said:

They call themself JSDF

Assured mutual destruction is very effective form of self defense. 😂😂😂

Edited June 11, 2022 by Voodooman