Troops of the Maritime Self-Defense Force attend an inspection parade at the Asaka base in suburban Tokyo on October 24, 2010. Around 3,800 personnel, 240 armored vehicles and 60 aircraft participated in the inspection parade. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)
On December 24, The Japanese Cabinet approved record-high military spending. The 96.72 trillion yen ($799 billion) budget for 2016 includes around 5.1 trillion yen for defense. It’s the fourth annual increase under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The budget includes allotments for surveillance aircraft, F-35 fighter jets, submarine construction, and an advanced destroyer with missile-defense capabilities.
It’s clear that Japan which makes steps to increase its military capabilities will play an important role in the regional security structure amid the US-China confrontation. It’s especially important to know the real Japanese navy capabilities and the maritime strategy in case of the possible escalation in the South China Sea:
Military Analysis: The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces
