reported on December 21 that in the budget for the coming year finalized by the Japanese Cabinet on the same day, defense-related expenses reached a record high of 5.3422 trillion yen (approximately RMB 337.7 billion), an increase of 0.5% from the original budget for 2020. Increased for 9 consecutive years. It is said that the increased costs are mainly used for the development and deployment of missiles, the development of fighter jets, and the introduction of Aegis ships. Japanese media also said that it was mainly in response to China and Russia.
In view of the defense relationship between the United States and Japan, Japan has always been the "spokesperson" of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, behind this increase in defense costs, there must be the United States, and the United States is the happiest one.
Japan’s geographical location is very important. It is close to the South China Sea, which is the focus of the United States, and not far from China and Russia. Japan's introduction of the Aegis ship means that it can prevent missile attacks. In addition, Japan also plans to strengthen its ability to deal with small drones. Coincidentally, China's drone combat technology is leading the world. Japan's move can be described as Sima Zhao's heart and everyone knows.
In addition, both China-US relations and Russia-US relations have become increasingly tense recently. Behind the scenes, the United States asked Japan to increase its defense investment, which also meant to prevent problems before they happened. Especially between the United States and Russia, Washington has been destroying the originally bad relations with Russia. Recently, Russia has also increased its research on nuclear weapons and missile development.
Putin even stated at the annual meeting of the Ministry of National Defense that if Western countries deploy missiles on the Russian border, Moscow will respond quickly. It can be seen from this that Putin has a tough attitude towards Western countries headed by the United States. In addition, Japan relied on the backing of the United States to quarrel with Russia over the sovereignty of the "four northern islands", which made Russia's attitude even stronger.
Therefore, whether it is from the perspective of the United States or Japan itself, the increase in defense costs is to a certain extent, and I am afraid it is all in response to the deteriorating relationship between the United States and China and Russia. But thinking from the perspective of the United States is more beneficial to it. Since Trump took office, he has continuously asked allies to increase military spending, charging "protection fees" in disguise.
Japan’s increase in defense costs is a three-pronged approach to the United States. The first is to threaten China and Russia, the second is to increase Japan’s dependence on the United States, and the US military’s influence in these regions. Income to subsidize its own defense expenditures.
In fact, not only does it pay "protection fees," Japan also regularly conducts military exercises with the United States in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. In October of this year, the US Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force held a joint military exercise in the South China Sea. In the name of the military exercise, they "showed their muscles" in the South China Sea in order to threaten China. Since July this year, the United States has been making a big fuss on the South China Sea issue, sowing China's relations with countries near the South China Sea.
In addition, Japan has recently invited the German Navy to participate in the 2021 US-Japan military exercises, apparently trying to win over more countries to "contain China." Before, Britain also said that it would send an aircraft carrier to the Asia-Pacific for military exercises with Japan. Perhaps Yoshihide Suga also hopes to get closer to European countries before Biden takes office, because Biden said that after taking office, he will repair the relationship between the United States and Europe first. In this way, Japan will not be left alone. What's more, the United States cannot do without itself in order to deal with China and Russia in the Asia-Pacific.
