Is Japan’s New Defense Budget Enough to Counter China’s Threats?

Japan wakes up—sort of. The Ministry of Defense submitted a record defense budget request this year.

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers rappel from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during an annual training session near Mount Fuji at Higashifuji training field in Gotemba, west of Tokyo, Japan, on Aug. 24, 2017. Issei Kato/Reuters

Commentary

An optimist would suggest that at least Japan realizes it needs more money for defense. However, beyond that it’s hard to be too positive. The request was in the 2.6 percent increase range. And this is before Ministry of Finance is done adjusting that amount. Japanese defense budgets have been woefully underfunded for decades.