Japan seeks record US$55.6 billion defence budget, with AI focus — SkimNews
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- Japan requested a record 8.9 trillion yen ($55.6 billion) defence budget for fiscal year 2027, targeting AI-driven decision systems and new warfare technologies
- Defence Ministry plans to develop underwater-launched hypersonic missiles and establish a unit to counter cognitive warfare involving disinformation campaigns
- Japan aims to deploy low-cost drones that operate alongside long-range standoff missiles to neutralize enemy assets
- China, North Korea, and Russia are cited as key security concerns driving Japan’s military expansion, with Beijing expressing alarm over Japan’s shifting defence posture
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has prioritized national defence, contributing to sharper tensions with China after suggesting possible intervention in a Taiwan conflict
- The final budget could rise to over 10 trillion yen, pending revisions to Japan’s core national security documents expected by year-end
Why it matters: Japan’s proposed budget jump—from $55.6 billion toward $70+ billion at 10 trillion yen—marks a material shift in its defence posture, directly responding to regional threats. This scale of spending accelerates Tokyo’s move beyond postwar pacifism, altering strategic calculations for U.S. allies in Asia while increasing pressure on Beijing, which sees the buildup as a revival of Japanese militarism.
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