Japan Press Weekly

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2023 March 1 - 7 [POLITICS]

Japan among top 3 buyers for 6 consecutive years of US weapons

In the ranking of countries purchasing U.S.-made weapons, Japan made the top three for six years in a row since 2016.

This list was created by Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Yamazoe Taku based on a report regarding U.S. arms sales which a U.S. think tank, the Council on International Policy, releases annually.

Yamazoe on March 6 at an Upper House Budget Committee meeting used the list and grilled the government about the relation between its huge arms buildup and large purchases of U.S.-made arms.

Yamazoe noted that U.S. defense industry representatives in February at a congressional hearing demanded adequate funding from the federal government for the industrial base. The JCP lawmaker pointed out that the former Trump administration, against the backdrop of demand from the defense industry, requested U.S. allies to increase their military spending. He said, “Japan achieved a higher rank in buyers of U.S.-made weapons for six consecutive years because the government became a walking wallet for the U.S. government and military industry,” demanding an explanation from Prime Minister Kishida.

PM Kishida in response only said, “The government has made efforts to procure necessary defense equipment at the right price.”

Yamazoke said that it is unacceptable for the government to go headlong into a huge arms buildup for the benefit of the U.S. war industry.

Past related article:
> Japan increases arms purchases under FMS [June 1, 2022]