This week, Japan is anticipated to make its largest defense announcement in decades, increasing expenditure, changing the structure of its military command, and acquiring new missiles to counter the threat from China.
The change is the result of Japan's concerns over China's escalating military prowess and regional bluster, as well as various dangers, including missile launches from North Korea and a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The measures will transform the defense environment in a nation whose post-war constitution does not even formally recognize the military. They will be defined in three defense and security documents as soon as this Friday (Dec. 16).
"Fundamentally strengthening our defense capabilities is the most urgent challenge in this severe security environment," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. "We will urgently ramp up our defense capabilities over the next five years."
Japan has also revealed intentions to collaborate with Italy and the United Kingdom to construct a next-generation fighter plane, as well as to build new ammo depots and launch satellites to aid guide future counter-strikes.
Among the new plans is a vow to increase spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, bringing Japan in line with NATO countries. This represents a significant increase over the previous spending of roughly 1%, and it has sparked debate over how it will be funded.
The funds will be used to fund programs such as the acquisition of what Japan refers to as "counterstrike capacity" - the ability to strike launch sites that pose a threat to the country, even preemptively.
Due to concerns that it might go against the constitution's ban on self-defense, Japan has historically refrained from attaining that power.
The policy documents will allegedly declare that Japan remains dedicated to a "self-defense-oriented security policy" and would "not become a military power" as a reference to the controversy.
As a backup measure while it develops longer-range missiles domestically, Japan is allegedly considering purchasing up to 500 U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The changes will also alter how the military is organized; according to the Nikkei newspaper, by five years all three branches of the Self-Defense Forces will be under a single command.
According to local media, the SDF's presence in Japan's southernmost islands will be boosted, including a tripling of forces capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
The documents, which include the important National Security Strategy, are expected to blame China for the policy shift.
Japan's ruling party reportedly sought to declare Beijing a "threat," but under pressure from its coalition partner would settle with dubbing China a "serious concern" and Japan's "greatest strategic challenge."
That is nevertheless a significant shift from 2013, the document's original iteration, and the last time it was modified when Japan stated its desire for a "mutually beneficial strategic partnership" a line that is expected to be dropped today.
