Defense budget to fall for 7th straight year

Saturday 20th December, 06:02 PM JST

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10 Comments

bluebandit at 12:05 AM JST - 21st December

Boo, hoo, I'm really shedding tears over this one.
some14some at 12:17 AM JST - 21st December

Boo, hoo, I'm really shedding tears over this one

i am going to bed with smiles, merits of strong yen, brings more buying power to defense ministry at low budget!
UnagiDon at 12:23 AM JST - 21st December

As opposed to the double-digit increases in defense budget of Japan's large neighbor to the west with its "peaceful rise".
Starviking at 12:47 AM JST - 21st December

i am going to bed with smiles, merits of strong yen, brings more buying power to defense ministry at low budget!

Not really, most Japanese military gear is either home produced or produced under licence.
pathat at 02:28 AM JST - 21st December

Yes, the "0.1%, or 5.6 billion yen" cut will definitely help Japan get back on track to getting its finances in order.

Six decades of so little defense spending, so little effort put into the defense of the country by the Japanese, always relying on the U.S. to protect it from its Asian neighbors, so much in return in terms of economic benefits, Japan still is that 12-year old that can't quite take care of itself, and complains unfairly about allocating any money to support those who do.

This seems a strange time for Japan to spend less on its defense, but I guess the declining oil prices make this projection accurate for now.
UnagiDon at 12:11 AM JST - 22nd December

pathat

Six decades of so little defense spending,

Nonsense - Japan's % spent on defense is fairly typical. If they spent more you'd probably be complaining about resurgent militarism.

so little effort put into the defense of the country by the Japanese,

See previous - Japan's effort is put into defence, not the ability to project military power far beyond its borders, and they do that quite well.

always relying on the U.S. to protect it from its Asian neighbors,

This is just beyond nonsense and is usually spouted by Americans, which I presume you are given how you spell "defence". Japan relies on the US for nuclear protection, but is more than capable of defending itself without US help. The US conventional forces in Japan are a great force multiplier but they are mainly there to project US power in East and Southeast Asia. They are there to help with the defence of Japan, but not there primarily.
pathat at 02:01 AM JST - 22nd December

"Japan's effort is put into defence, ..., and they do that quite well."

How would you know? Have you ever worked with the SDF? Otherwise, you would have no way of ascertaining the facts, and developing an informed opinion.

"Japan relies on the US for nuclear protection, but is more than capable of defending itself without US help."

No, it is not, Unagi Don.

I've long been a proponent of Japan amending Article 9 to have a clear right of self-defense, and also for Japan to revise the U.S.-Japan Security Agreement to allow for the removal of most, if not all, permanent U.S. forces from Japanese soil, and force the Japanese to provide for the bulk of their own defense.

The Japanese are spoiled and the public complains even about the low cost of the so-called "sympathy budget." They generally fail to understand how the majority of the money is spent providing jobs for Japanese civilians on the bases.

Instead of teaching a government-approved version of patriotism in the schools, a better way for young people to develop more pride in their nation, and what it means to be Japanese in the 21st century, would be for them to be responsible for the defense of their own nation.

Japan has had it too easy for 60 years.

At present, they cannot do without the United States of America.
UnagiDon at 03:58 AM JST - 22nd December

pathat;

How would you know? Have you ever worked with the SDF? Otherwise, you would have no way of ascertaining the facts, and developing an informed opinion.

Actually I have worked with the GSDF, but I hardly see how "working with" them is somehow a prerequisite for having an informed and educated opinion. Presumably you must have some secret insight from working with them, or otherwise your opinion would be just as ill-informed?

Now if you want to discuss things like Japan's attempt to get an export version of the F-22, emphasis on BMD, R&D to improve C3 on soldier systems, and CBRN countermeasures and are able to show how these are evidence of a lack of competence on defence issues, I'm all ears. Shall we discuss the MOD 208 White Paper?

I've long been a proponent of Japan amending Article 9 to have a clear right of self-defense, and also for Japan to revise the U.S.-Japan Security Agreement to allow for the removal of most, if not all, permanent U.S. forces from Japanese soil, and force the Japanese to provide for the bulk of their own defense.

I'm with you on some revision of Article 9 re collective self-defence, but removing US forces will not happen anytime soon. It's of too much benefit to both countries to have them there.

a better way for young people to develop more pride in their nation, and what it means to be Japanese in the 21st century, would be for them to be responsible for the defense of their own nation.

I'll partly agree with that, but pride in defending your own nation is only one part of patriotism,

At present, they cannot do without the United States of America.

Don't flatter yourself. And don't ignore the fact that the benefit goes both ways.
pathat at 06:21 AM JST - 22nd December

"Actually I have worked with the GSDF, but I hardly see how "working with" them is somehow a prerequisite for having an informed and educated opinion. Presumably you must have some secret insight from working with them, or otherwise your opinion would be just as ill-informed?"

I stand corrected about your experience. There are quite a few non-American JT members who love to bash the U.S. military in Japan without having any real knowledge of why they are there and what they do.

I have several years' experience working with the MSDF back in the '90s.

"Now if you want to discuss things like Japan's attempt to get an export version of the F-22,...."

I think Japan has been overly concerned with technology access/transfers over the years, and much less concerned with how much of the weaponry they have acquired could be used in their own defense. This has changed somewhat in recent years to be sure, with the more aggressive use of Aegis cruisers and Patriot missile systems to name a few, but keeping MHI and others in business is a big part of the issue, to my mind.

"I'm with you on some revision of Article 9 re collective self-defence, but removing US forces will not happen anytime soon. It's of too much benefit to both countries to have them there."

I agree with you to some extent here, but I lean more to the side that Japan needs to take on greater responsibillity for its own defense, in financial terms and with "boots on the ground."

We could rehash every detail, but I don't see the point in doing so. I'm sure there's plenty of talk about the same issues in the JT archives when you were "Unagi Dawn" and I was "patthatt."

"I'll partly agree with that, but pride in defending your own nation is only one part of patriotism."

I see what you're saying, but I'll stick with the opinion that young Japanese need a healthy dose of patriotism/love of country, and I don't want to see it "enforced" by the government through the education system.

"Don't flatter yourself." Don't take the bait hook, line, and sinker. "And don't ignore the fact that the benefit goes both ways."

I won't disagree with this from the standpoint of geopolitical purposes for the U.S., but I think the Japanese have gotten tremendous economic and political advantages at small cost in relation to the overall benefits for six decades. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.
UnagiDon at 11:42 AM JST - 22nd December

pathat;

I lean more to the side that Japan needs to take on greater responsibillity for its own defense, in financial terms and with "boots on the ground."

I'd agree with that one - Japan could do more, but should do in partnership with the US, India, Australia, NATO, and ideally Taiwan and S Korea.

I'm sure there's plenty of talk about the same issues in the JT archives when you were "Unagi Dawn" and I was "patthatt."

Ah yes, the natsukashii past...

I think the Japanese have gotten tremendous economic and political advantages at small cost in relation to the overall benefits for six decades.

Sure, but the US has also got an enormous geopolitical advantage by using Japan as an unsinkable aircraft carrier and FOB.