How Can We Help Japan's Defense Needs (ASAP)?
- Thread starter metro
- Start date
No, there is no treaty, constitutional or legal limit on what Japan spends. The 1% limit is a self-imposed policy, like the almost complete ban on arms exports, & in theory is reversible by a cabinet decision. It's a real barrier purely because it has come to have psychological, & hence political, significance.
Schumacher
New Member
And the defence budget has just been further reduced by 0.5%.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8TNIJ4O3.htm
The Associated Press December 23, 2007, 10:35PM ET text size: TT
Japan's Cabinet approves higher budget
TOKYO
The Japanese Cabinet approved a budget for fiscal 2008 on Monday that is slightly larger than the current year, thanks largely to rising social security costs as Japan's population ages.
Higher social security payments will offset declines in defense spending, overseas aid and public works projects such as roads and bridges.
The 83.06 trillion yen (US$728 billion; euro506 billion) draft budget for the fiscal year starting in April is 0.2 percent higher than the 82.91 trillion yen set for fiscal 2007, and marks the second straight yearly increase.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet, which approved the draft budget from the Ministry of Finance, is expected to send budget bills before Parliament in January, said deputy Cabinet secretary Hiroshi Suzuki. Their passage is expected by the end of March.
The budget proposal highlights rising social security costs and lackluster tax revenues that are hampering the country's financial reform. The possibility of general elections taking place next year may have also discouraged Fukuda's government from aggressive belt-tightening.
Under the proposal, defense expenditure will decrease 0.5 percent, while development aids to overseas countries will be reduced 4 percent. Public works project spending will decline 3.1 percent.
Social security payments, however, are expected to rise 3 percent to 21.78 trillion yen (US$191 billion; euro133 billion).
The government plans to trim new bond sales next year 0.3 percent to 25.35 trillion yen (US$222 billion; euro154 billion) for the fourth straight year of decline. Japan sells new bonds to raise funds to cover tax-revenue shortfalls.
Since reform-minded former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi started lessening bond issues during his 2001-2006 tenure, analysts have come to see the amount of new bond sales as a measure of how serious a Japanese government is about fiscal reform.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8TNIJ4O3.htm
The Associated Press December 23, 2007, 10:35PM ET text size: TT
Japan's Cabinet approves higher budget
TOKYO
The Japanese Cabinet approved a budget for fiscal 2008 on Monday that is slightly larger than the current year, thanks largely to rising social security costs as Japan's population ages.
Higher social security payments will offset declines in defense spending, overseas aid and public works projects such as roads and bridges.
The 83.06 trillion yen (US$728 billion; euro506 billion) draft budget for the fiscal year starting in April is 0.2 percent higher than the 82.91 trillion yen set for fiscal 2007, and marks the second straight yearly increase.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet, which approved the draft budget from the Ministry of Finance, is expected to send budget bills before Parliament in January, said deputy Cabinet secretary Hiroshi Suzuki. Their passage is expected by the end of March.
The budget proposal highlights rising social security costs and lackluster tax revenues that are hampering the country's financial reform. The possibility of general elections taking place next year may have also discouraged Fukuda's government from aggressive belt-tightening.
Under the proposal, defense expenditure will decrease 0.5 percent, while development aids to overseas countries will be reduced 4 percent. Public works project spending will decline 3.1 percent.
Social security payments, however, are expected to rise 3 percent to 21.78 trillion yen (US$191 billion; euro133 billion).
The government plans to trim new bond sales next year 0.3 percent to 25.35 trillion yen (US$222 billion; euro154 billion) for the fourth straight year of decline. Japan sells new bonds to raise funds to cover tax-revenue shortfalls.
Since reform-minded former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi started lessening bond issues during his 2001-2006 tenure, analysts have come to see the amount of new bond sales as a measure of how serious a Japanese government is about fiscal reform.
Remember that in Japan, prices have been falling for years, & are now more or less stable, with maybe a 0.3% rise in consumer prices this year. They currently seem more likely to fall than rise next year, which means that a 0.5% cut in spending could be static, or even slightly increased, spending in real terms.
F-15 Eagle
New Member
If Japan does not increase its defense budget they will lag behind China and North Korea. China has anywhere from 150-400 nukes and the worlds largest military. North Korea may be getting rid of its nukes but they still have the 4th largest military in the world, as well as ballistic missiles, chemical and biological weapons, and over 10,000 artillery peaces.
Being an island nation Japan's defense priorities are sea control and air defense. They just had a successful intercept of a ABM from an Aegis type destroyer.Japan will vie with China as a regional naval power.
F-15 Eagle
New Member
China has something that Japan does not and that is nukes around 200 of them in total.
If and when Japan feels its defense situation is alarming, you can bet your bottom dollar that Japan will increase its defense spending significantly. Keep in mind Japan has a defense treaty with the United States.
Japan is an island nation. Invasion forces need landing craft to invade them. Currently, the only nation capable of invading Japan is the United States, their defense ally.
Japan is an island nation. Invasion forces need landing craft to invade them. Currently, the only nation capable of invading Japan is the United States, their defense ally.
And as if Japan couldn't get the bomb (including ICBMs) in month...
They got the materials, the civil counterparts and defenitely the technological know how.
And currently, who is able to threaten Japan with its forces in that region (Or anybody apart from the US)?
They are defenitely able to control the sea and air around their islands against possible hostile forces.
And a budget of nearly 50 billion $ in the hands of one of the most advanced countries on this planet is not something to make jokes about.
They got the materials, the civil counterparts and defenitely the technological know how.
And currently, who is able to threaten Japan with its forces in that region (Or anybody apart from the US)?
They are defenitely able to control the sea and air around their islands against possible hostile forces.
And a budget of nearly 50 billion $ in the hands of one of the most advanced countries on this planet is not something to make jokes about.
Grand Danois
Entertainer
HESH & knee caps.
F-15 Eagle
New Member
What about China, can they deal with them?
What kind of a question is that?
Dealing with what?
During a show at which everybody shows how large his...ahem...military is?
Deal with a full scale chinese assault?
Deal with a defending PLA while Japan tries to conquer chinese territory again?
Deal with it during some naval/air clashes over some disputet waters?
Have tensions been on the rise for a long time or is it a conflcit with nearly no warning?
Is Japan supported by the US with which they integrated a lot?
Are they working on their own?
The only thing which is for sure os that Japan is safe from enemy agression against it's homesoil. Only the US have the ability to overcome the Chinese defense and they would pay.
And how likely is that anyway...
I just can say it again. Even when one considers that personal and equipment is expensive for Japan they are one of the most technological advanced countries out there, they get their training and get a lot from the US if they ask for it and have one of the biggest budgets in the world.
Dealing with what?
During a show at which everybody shows how large his...ahem...military is?
Deal with a full scale chinese assault?
Deal with a defending PLA while Japan tries to conquer chinese territory again?
Deal with it during some naval/air clashes over some disputet waters?
Have tensions been on the rise for a long time or is it a conflcit with nearly no warning?
Is Japan supported by the US with which they integrated a lot?
Are they working on their own?
The only thing which is for sure os that Japan is safe from enemy agression against it's homesoil. Only the US have the ability to overcome the Chinese defense and they would pay.
And how likely is that anyway...
I just can say it again. Even when one considers that personal and equipment is expensive for Japan they are one of the most technological advanced countries out there, they get their training and get a lot from the US if they ask for it and have one of the biggest budgets in the world.
Grand Danois
Entertainer
Yeah, but the movie has to last 90 minutes...
Capt. Picard
New Member
Actually the serious answer to this question is not defense equipment/capability related.
Given that China and N. Korea are Japans greatest threat the answer is simply this. Japan needs to make an clear concise and genuine apology for the actions of it's military in WW2. These countries greatest problem (their only problem largely) is this issue. A rewriting of textbooks to reflect reality and a real effort to educate the Japanese public s attitude to this issue is essential.
This would change everything for Japan in the region, where it has no friends at all. Of course it's not going to happen anytime soon and I am sure that China will take its revenge one day.
Given that China and N. Korea are Japans greatest threat the answer is simply this. Japan needs to make an clear concise and genuine apology for the actions of it's military in WW2. These countries greatest problem (their only problem largely) is this issue. A rewriting of textbooks to reflect reality and a real effort to educate the Japanese public s attitude to this issue is essential.
This would change everything for Japan in the region, where it has no friends at all. Of course it's not going to happen anytime soon and I am sure that China will take its revenge one day.