Japan Begins Defense Upgrade With 26% Spending Increase for 2023
- Funds set aside for Tomahawk missiles, fighter jet development
- Spending on ammunition to triple and maintenance to double
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldier in Gotemba, Japan.
Photographer: Carl Court/Getty Images
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Japan will hike its defense spending by more than a quarter in 2023 to ¥6.82 trillion ($51.4 billion) as it begins a five-year program to toughen its security posture amid rising threats from China, North Korea and Russia.
The plans include acquiring missiles capable of striking neighboring countries, and the development of a new jet fighter with the UK and Italy. Japan will also stockpile ammunition, and bolster its Self-Defense Forces’ ability to quickly deploy troops and equipment to southwestern islands, where tensions with China are high.