Japan's cabinet has approved a
record defense budget of 4.98 trillion yen that is equivalent to $42bn. Experts
are seeing this development in the light of growing maritime tension between
Japan and China. The defense budget is 2.8% higher than the previous year's defense
spending. Japan has been increasing its defense expenses for the past three
years (this year included), after a decade of cuts.
The defense minister of the
country Gen Nakatani has said that the step has been taken in accordance with
the changing situation around Japan. The hike is expected to be directed
towards patrol vessels and aircrafts. The purchase list has 20 maritime patrol
aircraft, five crossover aircraft, and six stealth fighters. 30 amphibious
vehicles and an early-warning aircraft are also in the wish-list.
Both Japan and China are engaged
in a bitter dispute in the East China Sea over the issue of ownership of islands
known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
Mr Nakatani said, "The level
of defense spending reflects the amount necessary to protect Japan's air, sea
and land, and guard the lives and property of our citizens." He also
mentioned that Chinese naval ships can be seen meandering along Japan's waters
and that its fighter jets comes perilously close to the same of Japan. The
statement, obviously, has been denied by China that says its maritime exercises
are completely legitimate.
It should be noted that China's defense
expenditure is two and half times more than that of Japan, while America tops
the list of military budget with over $600bn. India comes ninth in the list
with an expenditure of over $36bn.
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