This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-cabinet-oks-record-defense-budget-amid-china-concern/2015/12/23/bed96c4a-a9e3-11e5-b596-113f59ee069a_story.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Japan Cabinet OKs record defense budget amid China concern Japan Cabinet OKs record defense budget amid China concern
(about 7 hours later)
TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet approved a record-high military spending plan Thursday, endorsing plans to purchase pricey U.S. surveillance drones and F-35 fighter jets as Tokyo steps up cooperation with Washington amid China’s increasingly assertive activity in regional seas. TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet approved a record-high military spending plan Thursday, endorsing proposals to purchase pricey U.S. surveillance drones and F-35 fighter jets as Tokyo steps up cooperation with Washington amid China’s increasingly assertive activity in regional seas.
The 5.1 trillion yen ($42.1 billion) proposal is part of a 96.7 trillion yen ($800 billion) national budget plan for the year beginning April 2016, also an all-time high. The entire package requires parliamentary approval.The 5.1 trillion yen ($42.1 billion) proposal is part of a 96.7 trillion yen ($800 billion) national budget plan for the year beginning April 2016, also an all-time high. The entire package requires parliamentary approval.
Military spending would rise 1.5 percent from this year, the fourth annual increase under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who ended a decade of defense budget cuts.Military spending would rise 1.5 percent from this year, the fourth annual increase under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who ended a decade of defense budget cuts.
The defense budget is the first since Japan enacted new security legislation in September enhancing the country’s military role and since Japan revised its bilateral defense guidelines with the U.S. earlier in the year to allow broader cooperation between the two allies.The defense budget is the first since Japan enacted new security legislation in September enhancing the country’s military role and since Japan revised its bilateral defense guidelines with the U.S. earlier in the year to allow broader cooperation between the two allies.
The new security law divided Japan’s public opinion, with opponents saying it would increase a possibility of Japan being embroiled in U.S.-led war. The new security law divided Japanese public opinion, with opponents saying it would increase the possibility of Japan becoming embroiled in a U.S.-led war.
Japan is bolstering surveillance and defense of its southern islands, where it has a territorial dispute with China. The budget plan also includes the purchase of an advanced Aegis radar-equipped destroyer with missile-defense capability, submarine construction and sonar development. Japan is bolstering defense of its southern islands, where it has a territorial dispute with China. The budget plan also includes the purchase of an advanced Aegis radar-equipped destroyer with missile defense capability, submarine construction and sonar development.
The Defense Ministry plans to spend 14.8 billion yen this year on some of the multibillion-dollar, multi-year purchase of three “Global Hawk” unmanned drones, as well as six F-35 fighter jets for 138 billion yen ($1.1 billion) and a Boeing mid-air refueling aircraft KC-46A at 23 billion yen ($190 million). In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged Japan to “draw lessons from history, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and play a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability.” He said Chinese defense policy is “defensive in nature,” and its military spending is kept at “a reasonable level.”
Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to spend 14.8 billion yen ($118 million) next year for part of a multibillion-dollar, multi-year purchase of three “Global Hawk” unmanned drones, as well as 138 billion yen ($1.1 billion) for six F-35 fighter jets and 23 billion yen ($190 million) for a Boeing KC-46A midair refueling aircraft.
“We believe the budget includes items that would contribute to enhancing Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of ISR (information, surveillance and reconnaissance),” Defense Ministry official Tomoki Matsuo said.“We believe the budget includes items that would contribute to enhancing Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of ISR (information, surveillance and reconnaissance),” Defense Ministry official Tomoki Matsuo said.
Japan also pays 193 billion yen ($1.6 billion) for about 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan under the bilateral security treaty, more than half of them on Okinawa — a major source of friction between the central government and the southern island frustrated with the decades-long burden. Japan also pays 193 billion yen ($1.6 billion) a year for about 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral security treaty, more than half of them on Okinawa — a major source of friction between the central government and residents of the southern island frustrated with the decades-long burden.
The cost to move some of them to Guam and a contentious plan to move the U.S. Marine air base from the crowded Futenma area to a less-populated location on Okinawa was also added to the budget. The cost of moving some of them to Guam and a contentious plan to move a U.S. Marine air base from the crowded Futenma area to a less-populated part of Okinawa was also added to the budget.
Japan is constructing a Soryu-class submarine, among the world’s largest submarines, and developing a new sonar system. Tokyo is competing against Germany and France to jointly develop Australia’s next generation submarine fleet. Japan is constructing a Soryu-class submarine, among the world’s largest, and developing a new sonar system. It is competing against Germany and France to jointly develop Australia’s next-generation submarine fleet.
In a bid to step up its island defense, Japan is also purchasing a fleet of 17 SH-60K home-made helicopters and 36 maneuver combat tanks as well as amphibious vehicles. In a bid to step up its island defense, Japan is also purchasing 17 SH-60K helicopters and 36 combat tanks as well as amphibious vehicles.
______
Follow Mari Yamaguchi at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Associated Press writer Louise Watt in Beijing contributed to this report.
___
Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at twitter.com/mariyamaguchi
Her work can be also found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchiHer work can be also found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchi
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.