February 14, 2025
Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on February 13 in his interpellation at a House of Representatives plenary session fiercely criticized Prime Minister Ishiba for promising, without holding Diet discussions, to “fundamentally reinforce” Japan’s defense capabilities even after fiscal 2027 at the recently held Japan-U.S. summit meeting.
Shii said that PM Ishiba in the two leaders’ joint statement proclaimed the further strengthening of “U.S.-Japan deterrence and response capabilities” and Japan’s commitment to “fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities beyond FY 2027”, which is a continuous issue.
Shii referred to the Defense Buildup Program, one of the three key national security documents approved by the Cabinet in December 2022. He pointed out that the program states that the government will increase its military spending to 43 trillion yen over five years from FY 2023 to FY 2027 and will “maintain Japan’s defense capabilities in a stable manner” after FY 2027. However, he stressed, the Japan-U.S. joint statement specified that Japan will engage in “fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities beyond FY 2027”.
Shii asked Ishiba for a clear explanation of why the joint statement’s wording is different from the Defense Buildup Program’s. The JCP CC Chair said, “What the joint statement means is that Japan will be committed to increasing its military spending above 2% of GDP. Did you give such a serious promise to the U.S. without seeking Diet deliberations and a Cabinet decision?”
Ishiba in response said that the joint statement does not stipulate Japan’s defense spending beyond fiscal 2027. On the other hand, he did not deny a possible rise after 2027.
Shii said that PM Ishiba in the two leaders’ joint statement proclaimed the further strengthening of “U.S.-Japan deterrence and response capabilities” and Japan’s commitment to “fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities beyond FY 2027”, which is a continuous issue.
Shii referred to the Defense Buildup Program, one of the three key national security documents approved by the Cabinet in December 2022. He pointed out that the program states that the government will increase its military spending to 43 trillion yen over five years from FY 2023 to FY 2027 and will “maintain Japan’s defense capabilities in a stable manner” after FY 2027. However, he stressed, the Japan-U.S. joint statement specified that Japan will engage in “fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities beyond FY 2027”.
Shii asked Ishiba for a clear explanation of why the joint statement’s wording is different from the Defense Buildup Program’s. The JCP CC Chair said, “What the joint statement means is that Japan will be committed to increasing its military spending above 2% of GDP. Did you give such a serious promise to the U.S. without seeking Diet deliberations and a Cabinet decision?”
Ishiba in response said that the joint statement does not stipulate Japan’s defense spending beyond fiscal 2027. On the other hand, he did not deny a possible rise after 2027.
