Japan Signals 5-Year Defense Buildup in Fiscal Guidelines as Year-End Target Nears
Updated
Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 21
Japan Signals 5-Year Defense Buildup in Fiscal Guidelines as Year-End Target Nears
3 articles · Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 21
Summary
Cabinet-approved fiscal guidelines stopped short of setting a numeric defense-spending goal but pointed to a tougher benchmark for Japan’s military buildup.
The document referenced targets announced by NATO and two other U.S. allies and pledged to transform Japan’s defense capabilities within five years.
That language is expected to underpin a clearer spending target in three key national security documents the government plans to revise by year-end.
The move nudges Japan closer to defining how large its coming defense increases will be, even as the latest guidelines leave the final number unresolved.