Japan‘s Defense Ministry has allocated 5.1 trillion yen ($50 billion) in a budgetary request for fiscal 2017, up 2.3 percent from this fiscal year’s initial request. Against the backdrop of military buildups in both China and North Korea, seeking such a spending increase for the fifth straight year is reasonable.

Chinese military activity, including naval forays into the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands, has been surging. Placing an emphasis on reinforcing Japan’s defense of remote islands thus appears rational.

The ministry intends to launch the development of a new surface-to-ship missile with a range of 300 kilometers, which will double the current system’s range. It aims to put the new missile into practical use in fiscal 2023. If the missile is deployed to new Self-Defense Forces units, which are scheduled to be stationed on Miyakojima Island and Ishigakijima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, the new range would cover waters around the Senkaku Islands.

The ministry has also sought funds for upgrading its surface-to-air missile system with an eye on introducing it in fiscal 2021.

Both missile systems are expected to have a deterrent effect on China’s naval vessels and fighter jets. The systems would expand the range of Japan’s offensive capabilities. However, their deployment falls within the nation’s purely defensive policy and thus would not pose problems.

Regarding its defense of remote islands, Japan intends to begin research on the development of amphibious assault vehicles while also purchasing such vehicles from the United States.

In spending for missile defense, the ministry has sought 14.7 billion yen to purchase Standard Missile-3 Block 2A next-generation intercepting missiles, which have been jointly developed by Japan and the United States. It is the ministry’s first budget request of the type. With their production slated to begin in fiscal 2017, the missiles are expected to be gradually deployed on Aegis-equipped destroyers.

In early August, a Rodong ballistic missile fired by North Korea fell into the sea off Akita Prefecture. Concern has grown over Pyongyang’s technical progress in the development of missiles.

The SM-3 Block 2A model is significantly more capable than the existing SM-3 model in terms of its range and ability to identify a target, raising hopes of reinforcing Japan’s deterrent power. The Japanese and US governments launched their joint research on the missile in fiscal 1999 and began development in fiscal 2006. Reaching the stage of putting it into practical use is of great significance.

Other plans to bolster the nation’s defenses, including building new submarines and Aegis destroyers capable of ballistic missile defense, and introducing Osprey transport aircraft, must proceed as scheduled. 

Meanwhile, the ministry has included 11 billion yen in the budgetary request to expand “the system to promote technological research for national security,” which is designed to assist such research in the private sector. The request marked a substantial increase from the 600 million yen sought in this fiscal year.

Barriers to “dual use” technologies, which can be used for both military and civilian purposes, have been lowered globally. We hope advanced technologies in the private sector will contribute to bolstering national security.

In its budgetary request, the ministry has stressed it will place importance on “domestic production.”

If Japan depends excessively on foreign-made equipment, its defense industry and technological base could weaken, undermining its defense capabilities. However, the disadvantage of domestically produced equipment, which usually costs more, cannot be overlooked.

Achieving both goals -- maintaining the technological base and keeping costs down -- is vital.

Editorial
The Japan News (Japan)

(The Japan News/Asia News Network)