Security Japan News Today

Japan plans to build more ammunition depots at Self-Defense Forces facilities from fiscal 2024 to store long-range missiles as it is set to acquire enemy base strike capabilities, according sources close to the matter

Japan is looking to legislate a "security clearance" system, which grants some individuals special access to classified government data, in 2024 to prevent critical information from leaking to overseas entities, a government source says..

Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines have held joint naval drills in the South China Sea, the Japanese Defense Ministry says, amid China's continuous attempts to obstruct Manila's supply activities at military footholds in the water.

The Japanese government told ruling parties that lethal weapons could be exported for specific non-combat purposes, party members say, as working group discussions resume on relaxing the nation's strict defense equipment transfer rules.

The Defense Ministry will seek a record-high budget of over 7 trillion yen ($49 billion) for the next fiscal year, according to a source familiar with the matter, a move in line with Japan's new security strategy to eventually double its annual defense outlays.

Japan is set to decide to possess the capability of striking enemy bases, as well as double its defense costs, in a drastic shift from its postwar security policy under its war-renouncing Constitution.

Japan's pledge to boost defense spending to 43 trillion yen ($312 billion) over the next five years has become a high-stakes gambit for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has decided to push through tax increases to fund it.

Japan's ruling parties are set to approve a plan to raise taxes to fund a substantial increase in defense spending but will likely postpone deciding when to do so amid turmoil caused by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida abruptly floating the idea.

Japan is considering spending around 5 trillion yen ($37 billion) to develop and deploy long-range missiles from fiscal 2023 to 2027, government sources say, as the nation aims to possess an enemy base strike capability to address growing security threats.

Japan is considering almost tripling the number of units in its Self-Defense Forces equipped with ballistic missile interception capabilities in the country's remote southwestern islands by the end of fiscal 2031, a draft of the plan has shown.