Clued-in | Japan's military ambitions drain the public purse

Cartoon by Bi Yechenming

Kyodo News recently cited several sources as saying that Japan's Defense Ministry plans to seek about 8.9 trillion yen (about $56 billion) from the Finance Ministry for fiscal 2027, the largest defense budget request on record.

Since the request includes numerous items with unspecified amounts, the final budget is expected to rise further, potentially reaching around 10 trillion yen, the report said.

Japan's defense budget has risen for 14 consecutive years, from fiscal 2013 through fiscal 2026. The increase accelerated after the government formally adopted its current three security documents at the end of 2022. From fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2026, the budget grew from 6.8 trillion yen to 9 trillion yen.

Since taking office, Japan's current administration has continued to accelerate the country's remilitarization, revealing its growing military ambitions. But the money poured into these ambitions will bring neither greater security nor peace of mind. Instead, it will only worsen the country's fiscal woes and place an ever-heavier burden on the public.