( Observer Network ) According to Japan Kyodo News , the 2023 budget application was finalized on the 31st local time. In order to achieve the goal of thoroughly strengthening defense capabilities proposed by the cabinet of Kishida Fumio , the Ministry of Defense's 2023 budget application amount reached a record 5.5947 trillion yen (approximately 277.08 billion yuan), and many "matter requirements" with undetermined amounts were also written. In order to have "counterattack capability" (formerly "attack capability against enemy bases"), the Ministry of Defense will vigorously deploy the long-range missile . In order to strengthen air defense capabilities, the budget application states the construction cost of the "Aegis system carrier" for the first time, and strive to enter service in 2027.
On the afternoon of August 31, local time, Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada spoke at the meeting of the Ministry of Defense that finalized the budget application. Pictured from Kyodo.com
Regarding the "matter requirements" of the amount not determined, the Japanese government will conduct a detailed review of the funds. Kyodo News analyzed that the total budget for 2023 will exceed 2022 and may reach about 6.5 trillion yen. It is reported that Japan's annual budget for 2022 is about 5.4 trillion yen.
Kyodo News said the move was intended to "curb China, which is rapidly expanding its arms, but it may also trigger an arms race."
report shows that in the main projects, in order to ensure "outside defense capabilities" through long-range missiles, Japan will extend the range of the Ground Self-Defense Force 12 land-based anti-ship missile.
It is reported that the "Aegis system carrier" is an alternative measure to the interrupted "land-based Aegis system" plan for the ongoing onshore deployed missile interception system, and Japan will begin the procurement and design of engines. The standard displacement is estimated to be about 20,000 tons, which is the largest level among Japanese self-defense ships.
Japan Self-Defense Force Currently the latest Aegis ship "Mayya" class destroyer . Photo from the news agency
reported that in order to deal with and possess the " hypersonic weapon " that is difficult to intercept by existing systems under development by China, Russia and North Korea. In order to improve continuous combat capabilities, the missile and ammunition reserves will be increased and the production system will be strengthened.
In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Defense will promote the introduction of small drones that have proven useful in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In addition to vigilance and surveillance and intelligence collection, it is also conceived to introduce "attack" drones to obtain research-based bodies.
report shows that in the future, Japan will also strengthen its cross-domain combat capabilities including new fields such as space, network, electromagnetic wave . The Japan Air Self-Defense Force space combat group will increase by about 80 people, and a new "Internet Planning Class" (tentative name) will be established in the Ministry of Defense.
In addition to the Ministry of Defense, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the 2023 budget application amount on the 31st. Japan's Sankei Shimbun reported that the total budget application amount increased by 15.3% over the previous year to 796.1 billion yen (about 39.42 billion yuan).
reported that "in view of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the increasing frequent military activities of mainland Chinese troops around Taiwan", the amount of budget applications related to "maintaining and developing an international order based on democracy, such as universal values," increased by more than 40% compared with the previous year, reaching 212.1 billion yen.
The amount of the budget application for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be 110 billion yen for government development assistance (ODA), as well as supporting high-quality infrastructure and maritime security capacity building. Sankei Shimbun said that its purpose is to deal with China and achieve a "free and open Indo-Pacific region." In order to cope with the "economic coercion", the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also requested an additional 30 million yen investigation fee.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada talked about hypersonic weapons in an interview with Kyodo News on the 29th local time, saying that Japan should not only improve its interception capabilities, but also have counterattack capabilities.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded on August 30 that in recent years, Japan has gone further and further on the road of military expansion, including significantly increasing defense spending, vigorously developing military technologies such as anti-missile, outer space, hypersonic weapons, strengthening military cooperation between the United States and seeking to develop so-called "counterattack capabilities". Some even clamor for "nuclear sharing" with the United States, which will seriously violate the Peace Constitution and the "special defense" policy, and seriously threaten peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.Japan should seriously learn from historical lessons, adhere to the path of peaceful development, truly respect the security concerns of its neighbors in Asia, be cautious in words and actions in the field of military security, and truly win the trust of its neighbors and the international community.
