Militarism 2.0. Japan pumps muscles
The largest aircraft carrier of the United States, Japan, lacks security guarantees from the American troops occupying them. The land of the rising sun is making independent attempts to arm itself.
Of course, the main threat is seen by the powerful China, which methodically increases budgetary allocations for defense - in 2019 they will increase by 7,5%, which is in absolute terms 177,5 billion dollars. Also important is the “threat” from the Russian Federation, with which Japan still does not have a peace treaty, but there are disputed territories.
Most experts see the weakening of the influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region as one of the reasons for such a Japanese policy. And without the support of the American occupation forces, Japan will not last long in the event of a brawl.
At the same time, almost all defense initiatives of the Japanese are impossible without the influence of American armory corporations. So the development of a new anti-missile radar system for ships is carried out with the involvement of overseas specialists, which is both cheaper and easier. It is assumed that the cost of work on the topic will not exceed $ 20 million, and the final product will have a constant all-round view. This compares favorably with the AN / SPQ-9B system, the locator of which has many blank spots. The new locator will intercept supersonic missiles from potential adversaries: Russia, North Korea and China.
Shinzo Abe - the main ideologue of increasing the military power of Japan. The Prime Minister even promises to rewrite the constitution for this
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the main ideologist of military buildup, said in early March in this connection:
At the same time, it is planned not only to start the development of new weapon systems, but to make the necessary changes to the Constitution of Japan, which, as we know, is pacifist. It directly indicates the prohibition of the formation of a full-fledged army - only the Self-Defense Forces. The question is, will this be the first step in the development strategy of a new militaristic Japan, our eastern neighbor? It should be noted separately that the new defense initiative of Abe is not new in essence - Japan has long and systematically increased spending on the army. Every year since 2013, on average, 1-1,5% has increased Japanese military spending and in 2017, they reached a maximum of 46,6 billion dollars. Compare with Chinese 177,5 billion, American 686 billion and Russian 46 billion
China's army is a major irritant for Japan
At the same time, the Japanese, until recently, very clearly adhered to the restriction not to spend more than 1% of GDP on military spending. In the 2017, the year was even slightly overdone, and the level of defense expenditure relative to gross domestic product was the minimum 0,93%. At the same time, expenses have increased in absolute terms - all due to the good overall growth of the economy of the island nation. Among the items of the defense budget 2017 of the year (the Japanese fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31), the largest growth was recorded in the direction of purchases of new military equipment and research works. Obviously, the 2018 fiscal year will not be an exception: the Japanese will continue to purchase equipment and develop advanced weapons. Priorities remain technology guaranteed interception of ballistic missiles, the development of the reconnaissance potential of the troops, leveling threats in cyber and outer space, as well as the protection of the territory from cruise missiles.
It should be noted, and the discontent of the Japanese population rising defense spending. If in the 2016 year, per capita accounted for 332 dollar of military spending, in 2017, this figure reached the 351 dollar. In addition, many Japanese people remember what militaristic initiatives in the past led to. However, Chinese weapons spending does not give rest to the leadership of Japan. Even the soothing tone of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, which complains about the hungry period of “budget economy” that reigned in Celestial before the beginning of 2000, does not help. And now it is necessary to restore the dilapidated military factories of China, to train people and increase profitability. In addition, the official newspaper of the Chinese Army “Zefangjun Bao” mentions the high costs of the peacekeeping missions of the Chinese UN contingent. An example is the ten-year mission of the Chinese naval forces to protect civilian ships from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. A lot of Chinese military budget funds are spent on the maintenance of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which was created in 2018 year due to massive reductions (up to 300 thousand people) in the army three years earlier. It seems that no one knows what to do with retirees in China - in 2018, only 80 thousand ex-servicemen were employed. And they do not just sit at home, they take to the streets and demand proper benefits and pensions.
The latest ASM-3 should be the basis for an even more long-range anti-ship missile
How does Japan respond to such explanations from China? She is arming herself. One of the Japanese novelties, which may soon take up combat duty, will be an inconspicuous anti-ship missile, capable of reaching a target at a distance of up to 400 km. The main irritant of such a project was a noticeable increase in China's naval power, as well as the activation of the Pacific fleet Of Russia. Japanese engineers plan to use the experience in creating their own ASM-3 airborne anti-ship missile, which was adopted in 2017, when developing the novelty. The new budget also plans to rebuild the two Izumo destroyer helicopter carrier squadrons into inferior aircraft carriers that the F-35B can land on. The latter in the amount of 42 copies plan to purchase in the United States.
Izumo helicopter carrier in the near future to become an aircraft carrier
In general, the Japanese are planning to spend around five years on the army about 280 billion dollars and noticeably shift the emphasis from the land component of the army to the sea and air. There are plans to increase the missile defense base from 3 to 6, as well as expand the submarine fleet from 16 to 22. However, it should be remembered that with all the ambitions of the Ministry of Defense of Japan, a considerable part of the money, as before, will go to the reconfiguration of the US Armed Forces system on the territory of the island nation. That is, the maintenance of the occupying forces.
Japan is still not able to conduct a completely independent foreign and domestic policy. Samurai militarism 2.0 will have to be postponed until better times.
According to the materials of publications:
"Foreign Military Review"
kommersant.ru
Of course, the main threat is seen by the powerful China, which methodically increases budgetary allocations for defense - in 2019 they will increase by 7,5%, which is in absolute terms 177,5 billion dollars. Also important is the “threat” from the Russian Federation, with which Japan still does not have a peace treaty, but there are disputed territories.
Most experts see the weakening of the influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region as one of the reasons for such a Japanese policy. And without the support of the American occupation forces, Japan will not last long in the event of a brawl.
At the same time, almost all defense initiatives of the Japanese are impossible without the influence of American armory corporations. So the development of a new anti-missile radar system for ships is carried out with the involvement of overseas specialists, which is both cheaper and easier. It is assumed that the cost of work on the topic will not exceed $ 20 million, and the final product will have a constant all-round view. This compares favorably with the AN / SPQ-9B system, the locator of which has many blank spots. The new locator will intercept supersonic missiles from potential adversaries: Russia, North Korea and China.
Shinzo Abe - the main ideologue of increasing the military power of Japan. The Prime Minister even promises to rewrite the constitution for this
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the main ideologist of military buildup, said in early March in this connection:
“With unprecedented speed, the security situation around Japan is deteriorating. We can not protect this country, limited to only the traditional framework. Guided by new defense principles, we will actively promote various reforms to enhance the defense power. ”
At the same time, it is planned not only to start the development of new weapon systems, but to make the necessary changes to the Constitution of Japan, which, as we know, is pacifist. It directly indicates the prohibition of the formation of a full-fledged army - only the Self-Defense Forces. The question is, will this be the first step in the development strategy of a new militaristic Japan, our eastern neighbor? It should be noted separately that the new defense initiative of Abe is not new in essence - Japan has long and systematically increased spending on the army. Every year since 2013, on average, 1-1,5% has increased Japanese military spending and in 2017, they reached a maximum of 46,6 billion dollars. Compare with Chinese 177,5 billion, American 686 billion and Russian 46 billion
China's army is a major irritant for Japan
At the same time, the Japanese, until recently, very clearly adhered to the restriction not to spend more than 1% of GDP on military spending. In the 2017, the year was even slightly overdone, and the level of defense expenditure relative to gross domestic product was the minimum 0,93%. At the same time, expenses have increased in absolute terms - all due to the good overall growth of the economy of the island nation. Among the items of the defense budget 2017 of the year (the Japanese fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31), the largest growth was recorded in the direction of purchases of new military equipment and research works. Obviously, the 2018 fiscal year will not be an exception: the Japanese will continue to purchase equipment and develop advanced weapons. Priorities remain technology guaranteed interception of ballistic missiles, the development of the reconnaissance potential of the troops, leveling threats in cyber and outer space, as well as the protection of the territory from cruise missiles.
It should be noted, and the discontent of the Japanese population rising defense spending. If in the 2016 year, per capita accounted for 332 dollar of military spending, in 2017, this figure reached the 351 dollar. In addition, many Japanese people remember what militaristic initiatives in the past led to. However, Chinese weapons spending does not give rest to the leadership of Japan. Even the soothing tone of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, which complains about the hungry period of “budget economy” that reigned in Celestial before the beginning of 2000, does not help. And now it is necessary to restore the dilapidated military factories of China, to train people and increase profitability. In addition, the official newspaper of the Chinese Army “Zefangjun Bao” mentions the high costs of the peacekeeping missions of the Chinese UN contingent. An example is the ten-year mission of the Chinese naval forces to protect civilian ships from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. A lot of Chinese military budget funds are spent on the maintenance of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which was created in 2018 year due to massive reductions (up to 300 thousand people) in the army three years earlier. It seems that no one knows what to do with retirees in China - in 2018, only 80 thousand ex-servicemen were employed. And they do not just sit at home, they take to the streets and demand proper benefits and pensions.
The latest ASM-3 should be the basis for an even more long-range anti-ship missile
How does Japan respond to such explanations from China? She is arming herself. One of the Japanese novelties, which may soon take up combat duty, will be an inconspicuous anti-ship missile, capable of reaching a target at a distance of up to 400 km. The main irritant of such a project was a noticeable increase in China's naval power, as well as the activation of the Pacific fleet Of Russia. Japanese engineers plan to use the experience in creating their own ASM-3 airborne anti-ship missile, which was adopted in 2017, when developing the novelty. The new budget also plans to rebuild the two Izumo destroyer helicopter carrier squadrons into inferior aircraft carriers that the F-35B can land on. The latter in the amount of 42 copies plan to purchase in the United States.
Izumo helicopter carrier in the near future to become an aircraft carrier
In general, the Japanese are planning to spend around five years on the army about 280 billion dollars and noticeably shift the emphasis from the land component of the army to the sea and air. There are plans to increase the missile defense base from 3 to 6, as well as expand the submarine fleet from 16 to 22. However, it should be remembered that with all the ambitions of the Ministry of Defense of Japan, a considerable part of the money, as before, will go to the reconfiguration of the US Armed Forces system on the territory of the island nation. That is, the maintenance of the occupying forces.
Japan is still not able to conduct a completely independent foreign and domestic policy. Samurai militarism 2.0 will have to be postponed until better times.
According to the materials of publications:
"Foreign Military Review"
kommersant.ru
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