By HANA KUSUMOTO | STARS AND STRIPES Published: December 21, 2020 TOKYO Japan’s Cabinet approved the nation’s largest-ever defense budget on Monday, about 5.34 trillion yen, or $52 billion, for the next fiscal year. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2021, starting in April, is a 0.5% increase over this year’s budget of 5.32 trillion yen, or $51.5 billion, and is the ninth consecutive increase in the national defense budget. The budget also allocated 293 billion yen, about $2.8 billion, for costs related to realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. That’s a slight increase over this year’s initial budget of 263.8 billion yen, or $2.5 billion. This budget is the first approved by the new Cabinet under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who took office in September. Suga pledged to stay the course set by his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who expanded the Self-Defense Force’s role and its capabilities.
Japan to develop new long-range missiles [The Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo / Asia News Network]
Dec. 9 The government plans to develop a long-range cruise missile that can strike beyond the range of enemy weapons, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. The move is part of a new missile defense policy to be drawn up by the end of this year, under which the government will improve the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile so that it can be launched from naval vessels and aircraft, and strike ground targets. The Cabinet will approve the plan as early as next week. The Type 12 has a range of more than 100 kilometers. The new missile is expected to have a range of several hundred kilometers, according to sources. The aim is to provide a certain level of stealth capabilities. It is thought that the missile could be used to attack enemy bases in the future. The Defense Ministry will earmark ¥33.5 billion in the next fiscal year’s budget for related expenses. The ministry aims to complete the development