Page 16 - ADT MARCH 2023 Latest Magazine | GBP

© Gordon Arthur

LOOKING EAST

East Asia is emerging as a defence budget, reaching a total of JPY6.8 tril-
lion (USD51.4 billion). Much of the extra money
major global flashpoint will go on new weapon systems, but this does
not immediately help the rather lean person-
nel-to-combat platform ratio that afflicts the
- By Gordon Arthur Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF).

ast Asia is one of the world’s tensest regions, with enormous A lot of Japanese spending goes on American
potential for sparks to ignite conflict. The region contains a equipment. Japan had previously selected
E belligerent North Korea still technically at war on the Korean Aegis Ashore, but it eventually baulked at the
Peninsula; China, who despises the USA and has nefarious inten- price and instead has opted to build two 8,200-
tions on Taiwan; and territorial disputes in the East China Sea and tonne destroyers equipped with the SPY-7(V)1
Russian-occupied islands north of Japan. radar. This will bring to ten the number of Aegis-
equipped destroyers in the Japan Maritime
DSEI Japan 2023, held in Tokyo from 15-17 March, brings such ten- Self-Defense Force.
sions into focus as Japan bolsters its defences in the face of rising
threats. Indeed, Japan’s National Security Strategy (NSS), released The NSS admitted that Japan can no longer
in mid-December 2022, unequivocally warned: ‘…Japan’s security rely on just ballistic missile defence and, ‘For
environment is as severe and complex as it has ever been since the this reason, we need counterstrike capabilities:
end of World War II.’ capabilities which, in the case of missile attacks
by an opponent, enable Japan to mount
While it lists Russian aggression in Ukraine, and North Korean bel- effective counterstrikes against the opponent
ligerence, China actually figures as Japan’s greatest threat through to prevent further attacks, while defending
both its military build-up and grey-zone tactics. The NSS thus stated, against incoming missiles by means of the mis-
‘…China’s current external stance, military activities and other activ- sile defence network.’
ities have become a matter of serious concern for Japan and the
international community, and present an unprecedented and the Such a counter-strike capability is considered
greatest strategic challenge in ensuring the peace and security ‘a minimum necessary measure for self-defence’
of Japan…to which Japan should respond with its comprehensive and deterrence. Japan thus plans to adopt
national power and in cooperation with its ally, like-minded coun- Tomahawk cruise missiles in bulk, which will be
tries and others.’ a major step change for the country’s military.
This, as well as increasing the range of indige-
Japan Responds nous anti-ship missiles and exploring hypersonic
By FY2027, Japan plans to be spending 2% of GDP on defence, missiles, illustrates how Japan is shifting to a
which represents double the 1% proportion the country had main- more offensive posture. It has also modified two
tained for six decades. Kicking it off late last year, Prime Minister Izumo-class ships to carry F-35B fighters. One
Fumio Kishida approved a 26.3% year-on-year increase for the 2023 other priority is to beef up defences in Japan’s
16 | MARCH 2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT