Washington: Japan will deploy missiles capable of hitting bases in China, Russia and North Korea in the largest military build-up since World War II.
Tokyo’s development of a deterrent “counterattack” capability is in response to what it calls China’s “unprecedented strategic challenge”.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Tokyo, Friday, Dec. 16.Credit:Associated Press
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said it was a “historical turning point” for the pacifist country and a “new course for Japan”.
The $320 billion ($480 billion) plan would make Japan the world’s third-biggest military spender, after the United States and China.
It is part of the first broad national security strategy since 2013, under which defense spending will double to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027.
Fears are growing that China could attack Taiwan, threaten the nearby Japanese islands, disrupt semiconductor supplies and affect oil imports from the Middle East.
In this 2018 image provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) fires a Tomahawk land-attack missile.Credit:Associated Press
The missiles equipped by the Japanese army can only fly a few hundred kilometers. Instead, it will buy a number (believed to be in the hundreds) of ship-launched US-made Tomahawk missiles that can fly nearly 1,600 kilometers and hit naval bases on China and Russia’s east coast.
Tokyo will also expand the range of its ground-launched Type 12 anti-ship missiles over the next five years and buy interceptor missiles, attack and reconnaissance drones, satellite communications equipment, F-35 stealth fighter jets, helicopters, submarines, ships and transport Tool plane.
