News / Reports

Japan to boost military amid South Korean opposition

Tuesday, 20 December 2022 6:09 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 20 December 2022 6:09 PM ]

Frank Smith

Press TV, Seoul

Japan has slowly developed the scope and scale of its military forces since its defeat in World War 2, despite its pacifist constitution. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Friday announced a major shift in its post-war self defense principle.

Outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, activists protested against Japan's new military plans. Japan ruled over Korea for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Civic leaders argue Japan's force buildup, to include various US missiles and counterstrike strategy, can enable its military to again become offensive in nature.

Japan suggests it's responding to increasing threats from North Korea and China. Over the next five years Japan plans to double its military spending from 1 percent to 2 percent of GDP.

And much of that more than $300 billion dollars is earmarked to be spent in America's military industrial complex. Japan's new military budget comes just as the US increases its annual military spending to $858 billion.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk