Japan Unveils $320 Billion Military Build-Up

Japan has said it would begin a $320 billion military build-up that would arm it with missiles capable of striking countries amid conflict and regional tensions.

In its sweeping five-year plan and revamped national security strategy, the government said on Friday that it would also stockpile spare parts and other munitions.

And that it will reinforce logistics, develop cyber-warfare capabilities, and cooperate more closely with the United States and other like-minded nations to deter threats to the established international order.

The country’s PM Kishida’s plan will double defence outlays to about 2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) over the next five years, and increase the defence ministry’s share to about one-tenth of all public spending.

It will also make Japan the world’s third-biggest military spender after the US and China, based on current budgets.

The money will fund projects including the acquisition of what Japan calls “counterstrike capacity” – the ability to hit launch sites that threaten the country.