Japan’s defense budget hits record against China
Date 21 Dec 2020 at 18:29
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The budget of the Japanese Ministry of Defense has increased for the seventh consecutive year, surpassing 5 trillion yen.
The Kyodo news agency reported that on Dec. 21, the Japanese government approved the Ministry of Defense budget for fiscal year 2021 amounting to 5.34 trillion yen or about 1.55 trillion baht.
The budget rose 0.5 percent from fiscal 2020 and hit a record for the seventh consecutive year amid security challenges raised by China. Japan is also seeking to increase its capacity to deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.
The Ministry of Defense allocated a budget of 33.5 billion yen or about 9,700 million baht for missile development. The opposition has voiced concern, saying that possession of a missile capable of attacking the enemy would counteract the country’s war-renouncing constitution and go against policies focused exclusively on defense.
The Minister of Defense Nobu Okishi said. Japan is imperative to respond to growing Chinese naval activity around Japan’s southwestern archipelago. Anti-ballistic missiles are vital in the protection of the archipelago.
In addition, it has allocated a budget of 1,700 million yen, or about 493 million baht, to prepare for the construction of two new fleet ships, and decided to spend 57.6 billion yen or about 16,700 million baht to develop a new fighter jet. And an additional 15,500 million yen budget allocated approximately 4,500 million baht for related research. It also plans to allocate a budget of 30,100 million yen, approximately 8,700 million baht for cybersecurity.
Photo by David MAREUIL / POOL / AFP
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