AFP, TOKYO: The Japanese government is considering a cut of about 30 percent in the number of tanks and artillery, while boosting ground forces personnel by more than 5,000, a news report said Tuesday.
In the new framework of the National Defense Program Outline, the government is also considering dispensing with the guideline under which Japan possesses the minimum necessary defense capability, the top-selling Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said, citing a government source.
Japan currently has about 148,000 ground troops, and “we are trying to adjust the number so that we can effectively deal with new types of security concerns”, an army spokesman said, without commenting directly on the Yomiuri report.
Since its establishment in 1954, the military has been organised and equipped primarily to counter the threat of Soviet invasion.
The official said the Ground Self Defense Force, as the army is officially termed, has about 1,080 tanks along with 900 artillery pieces.
Under the new defense framework, those would be cut to about 600 to 650 each, the Yomiuri said.
Defense Agency officials also declined to comment on the Yomiuri report.
International co-operative tasks, such as UN peacekeeping operations, will be promoted from incidental duties of Japanese soldiers to their primary duties under the new framework, the Yomiuri said.
“These changes signify the most drastic review of the duties of the SDF (Self Defense Forces) since it was established in 1954,” the Yomiuri said.
Japanese defense officials plan to seek 4.96 trillion yen (46 billion dollars) — equivalent to roughly one percent of gross domestic product — in overall defense spending for the year to March 2005, including the navy and air force.
The figure also includes 142.3 billion yen as part of a four-year plan to build up the ballistic missile defense system.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet has agreed to review overall defense capability by setting a new basic defense framework by the end of 2004.
The current framework was initially drafted in 1976 and was revised in 1995, setting a basic outline for Japan's defense capability.
Japan's defense policies should shift away from the Cold War era threat of invasion by Soviet troops, to “new threats” such as terrorist attacks and ballistic missiles from other nations, the Koizumi cabinet agreed in December.
Defense officials have said that the Defense Agency plans gradually to reduce military equipment, such as tanks, jets and destroyers, which were bought to fight foreign invading forces.
