Japan has recently approved to move forward with spending 9 trillion yen (48.82 million euros) in the coming year on weaponry and coastal defense. “It is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era”, , said defense minister Shiniro Koizumi This increase in spending has been going on for four years, and is expected to continue for one more, marking the end of Japan’s five year plan to increase spending on arms. If it continues increasing spending it will become the third-largest spender on arms after the United States of America (USA) and China. To maintain a secure and safe Japan, the government is motivated to continue funding the defenses. To finance this, the government has aims to increase taxes, both on corporations and on tobacco.

One of the reasons for the increase in spending of arms was Japan’s rising tensions with China. Recently, Japan-China relations escalated due to the fact that Chinese aircraft carrier drills prompted Japan’s capital Tokyo to protest, as a result of China locking their radar on a Japanese aircraft, which is considered a possible preparation for launching missiles. Japan wants to have a protected coast, as well, but as a result of its declining population, it is arduous to find military strength. To ensure a safe coastal defense, it will spend 100 billion yen (524.5 million euros) to put unmanned air, and underwater drone for patrol fostering security in the sea surrounding the nation. It is a Japanese aim to increase spending on arms, and to increase research in Al and its development, to encourage the use of drones and jets.