Asia-Pacific

Tokyo's Rising Military Might Threatens to Upset Fragile Pacific Balance

Japan’s Defense Minister Tomomi Inada stated that the country’s Self-Defense Forces have the right to launch strikes against enemy territory, raising concerns about the prospects of Tokyo’s ongoing military buildup.

Inada made this statement in response to the latest North Korean ballistic missile tests, adding that Tokyo considers all available means of protecting the national security, including military strikes against enemy targets abroad.

However, it remains unclear whether this stance contradicts Japan’s pacifist constitution

In recent years Tokyo has significantly increased the country’s defense budget, ramping up annual military spending up to $41.7 billion in 2016 and to $44.64 in 2017.