• About Us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI English
TFI हिन्दी
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
Right Arm. Round the World. FAST.
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
No Result
View All Result

In hint to Biden, Japan removes the biggest barrier in its way as it gears up to take on China militarily

Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra by Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra
May 22, 2021
in Indo-Pacific
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
japan china defence budget
554
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a historic move which is bound to scare China to its meek bones, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi has announced that his country will be hiking its military budget, notwithstanding the 1 per cent share of GDP cap which Japan has strictly adhered to. What this means is that Japan will now be breaching the 1 per cent of GDP cap which it has put on itself in terms of defence spending. This would allow Tokyo to tremendously bolster its defence capabilities, although Nobuo Kishi also mentioned that the focus would also be towards increasing Japan’s offensive capabilities. 

Since the 1990s, Japan has kept its defence spending below 1 per cent of its GDP. With the Defense Minister now saying that the 1 per cent of GDP cap will no longer be paid heed to, Japan has effectively sent across a signal to not just China, but also Joe Biden.

Also Read

Mexico Is Making a Killing Out of the West-China Tussle

Is Switzerland doing the tango with Putin

Speaking to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese Defence Minister said, “We must increase our defence capabilities at a radically different pace than in the past,” considering China’s increased capabilities, as well as new areas of warfare such as space, cyber and electromagnetics. Nobuo Kishi was also quoted as saying, “We will properly allocate the funding we need to protect our nation” without considering outlays in relation to GDP.

Since the 1990s, the only year that Japan’s defence spending exceeded 1 per cent of GDP was fiscal 2010, when GDP plummeted after the global financial crisis. According to The Nikkei, Japan’s defence budget has grown for nine straight years through fiscal 2021 but has remained below 1 per cent of GDP. The intentional breaching of the 1 per cent mark is being called a turning point for Japan’s security policy.

Read more: Japan has truly come out of the shadows of pacifism as it moves towards becoming a major defence exporter

While the move will most definitely irk China and help Japan bolster its defence capabilities in face of growing Chinese belligerence in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, the announcement of increasing Japan’s defence spending by leaps and bounds will also be a message to the Biden administration that Tokyo is going to stand on its feet to defend itself, and not depend on the United States. 

A clear indicator of Japan’s discomfort with its dependence on the United States for its defence was given by Nobuo Kishi when he told Nikkei Asia that Japan, by hiking its defence spending over the per cent GDP share mark will seek to strengthen its capabilities on the Nansei Islands. The Nansei Island chain stretches from the southernmost tip of Kyushu to the north of Taiwan and consists of small islands such as Osumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, Miyako and Yaeyama. 

The Nansei Island chain is absolutely crucial for Japan to heavily militarise since they are to be used in the defence of not just the Senkaku Islands, but also the Miyako Strait and subsequently, the protection of Taiwan. Although the United States of America has a military base at Okinawa, which forms a part of the Nansei island chain, the Biden administration has been looking to disperse its troops across the Indo-Pacific, which would mean pulling out boots from Okinawa.

Read more: As China prepares to attack Japan over Senkaku islands, Biden quietly moves American troops stationed in Japan

Therefore, at a time when Joe Biden is actively trying to pull out American troops from Okinawa, Japan has realised that it must spend much more on its military in order to defend itself independently. Apart from inevitably hiking Japan’s defence spending, Nobuo Kishi also pushed for a Quad defence ministers’ meet soon. It must be remembered that Joe Biden has been trying to dilute Quad with his climate vigilantism and non-China specific issues. At such a time, Japan’s push for a Quad meet when it is about to hike its defence budget indeed comes as a direct message to the Biden administration.

Japan’s last defence budget witnessed a record high of worth US$51.7 billion and was aimed at overpowering China. And Japan isn’t just going to produce conventional weapons. It is going to develop a remote-controlled, pilotless aircraft ready for deployment by 2035. Japan will also invest heavily in making its offensive military capabilities independent of direct human involvement, which will allow the country to take on China without having to lose precious lives. 

At a time when Joe Biden is giving China a free pass to do as it fancies, Japan under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is fundamentally changing its security outlook. The message to the Biden administration is clear – Japan is readying its capabilities to take on China alone, if that situation were to ever arise. 

Tags: Chinadefence budgetExhaustive ReadsJapanJoe Biden
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Bernie Sanders: The faces behind the attacks against Jews in the US

Next Post

Netanyahu is not going to accept the two-state solution and will in fact go ahead with the annexation of West Bank

Also Read

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

February 5, 2023
EU Xinjiang

EU’s malicious encashment of forced labour is a revelation of its true evil face

February 4, 2023
China Children

China comes up with a bizarre idea to overcome demographic challenges

February 1, 2023
Czech Republic Taiwan

Taiwan friends a new ally in the Balkans

February 1, 2023
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
US Ukraine

Russia unearths USA’s empire of terror in Ukraine

February 4, 2023
Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

February 5, 2023
Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

May 9, 2022
Jordan B Peterson

The proposed demise of World Economic Forum! Courtesy- Jordan B. Peterson

February 2, 2023
Nord Stream US

An energy-secured Germany blames US for Nord Stream sabotage for the first time

February 4, 2023
Philip Davis

Decoding the Reason for the Bahamian Prime Minister’s Death Threats

February 7, 2023
Lithium America

South America finally flexes its Lithium Muscles

February 7, 2023
Trudeau kneels down on Bill C-21 provisions but he needs to prostrate

Trudeau kneels down on Bill C-21 provisions but he needs to prostrate

February 7, 2023
Mexico China

Mexico Is Making a Killing Out of the West-China Tussle

February 7, 2023
Peru protests

There is only one way out for Peru. Fix the constitution

February 7, 2023
Youtube Twitter Facebook
TFIGlobal
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Follow us on Twitter

and never miss an insightful take by the TFIGlobal team

Follow @tfiglobal
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. View our Privacy and Cookie Policy.