September 1, 2026

Japan has recently stepped up efforts to expand its military capabilities. Shortly after the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) requested a record 344.8 billion yen for fiscal 2027, the country's Defense Ministry on Monday unveiled a record-breaking budget request of 8.89 trillion yen ($56 billion) for the next fiscal year.

A Chinese expert noted that rather than the headline figure alone, Japan's record-breaking defense budget request reflects a more worrying trend: while Japan continues to break through postwar military constraints, it has never shown the kind of serious reflection on historical issues that should accompany its expanding military capabilities. Japan is moving further down a dangerous path toward militarism, making it impossible to ease the vigilance of neighboring countries and their concerns over a possible revival of Japan's militarism.

The budget request focuses on three key areas, including preparing for what it described as "new ways of warfare" by employing AI and drones, ensuring "sustained operational capabilities" in a "prolonged conflict," and strengthening Japan's defense industrial base, according to Japanese media outlet the Japan Times on Monday. 

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