Japan Weighs Bigger Defence Budget as Okinawa Gets New Vehicles

Japan is weighing a near doubling of its defence spending, the Taipei Times reported on Nov 3, citing two people familiar with the matter. Defence buildup spending for the five years from April 2027 would be set at ¥70 trillion to ¥80 trillion (US$444 billion to US$508 billion), about 1.8 times the current plan. Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it had no comment, and the figure could still change.

Separately, SBS News, citing the Yomiuri Shimbun, reported that Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force plans to station Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles at the Naha garrison in Okinawa this month, the first permanent deployment to the Nansei Islands. The 15th Brigade is being upgraded to a division, growing from 2,300 to 3,900 personnel.

Defence Blog, citing Japan’s Joint Staff, said Japan tracked four Chinese navy ships through the Miyako Strait on Nov 1 and Nov 2, including two Luyang III destroyers and two supply ships. The strait is an international waterway.

None of the reports describes a confrontation, but together they show how Japan’s defence posture is changing.

SOURCES

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Japan is weighing a near doubling of its defence spending over the next five years, the Taipei Times reported on Nov 3, citing two people familiar with the matter. Buildup spending from April 2027 would reach ¥70 trillion to ¥80 trillion, about 1.8 times the current plan, though the defence ministry declined to comment and the figure could change. SBS News, citing the Yomiuri Shimbun, said Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force plans to station Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicles at the Naha garrison in Okinawa this month, the first permanent deployment of the vehicles to the Nansei Islands, as the 15th Brigade is upgraded to a division growing from 2,300 to 3,900 personnel. Defence Blog, citing Japan’s Joint Staff, reported four Chinese navy ships, including two Luyang III destroyers, transited the Miyako Strait on Nov 1 and 2. The reports describe no confrontation, but together they show Japan’s defence posture shifting.