“Starting with a basic strengthening of defensive power, we must be firmly prepared for the worst scenario,” the document reads.
Japanese authorities on Friday adopted a new national security strategy that includes the right to launch counterattacks against enemy territory.
The NHK chain pointed out that the counterattacks would not be preventive and They will be made only for the purpose of self-defense. They must be carried out only against military objectives.
“Starting with a basic strengthening of defensive power, we must be firmly prepared for the worst case scenario“, says the strategy. He indicated that in the long term, in the next decade, Tokyo has the objective of developing the capabilities that allow it to “disrupt and defeat invasions against its nation much sooner and at a greater distance.” At the same time, Japan wants to improve its capabilities in the field of space and cybersecurity.
According to the agency, Japan plans to spend 5 trillion yen ($37 billion) to deploy foreign missiles, including Lockheed Martin’s Tomahawk, by 2026. In parallel, the country wants to carry out development of domestic surface-to-ship guided missiles. .
Another change in the national security strategy foresees the increase of Japan’s defense budget until 2% of GDP for the next five years. In this way, if the objective is maintained, the country’s budget could become the third largest in the world.
Furthermore, the document calls China ‘greatest strategic challenge’ for their efforts to ensure security and stability.
Regarding the adoption of the document, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, declared this Friday that his country is “in the midst of the most serious and complex security environment since the end of World War II”, and highlighted the importance to “maintain and develop a free and open international order, based on the rule of law”.
Source: RT
