By Sun Wenzhu
孙文竹
The Japanese government recently approved the fiscal 2025 budget at a cabinet meeting, with the defense budget reaching a record 8.70 trillion yen ($55 billion), a 9.4% increase from fiscal year 2024. Since fiscal year 2023, Japan's defense budget has consecutively surpassed the 6 trillion, 7 trillion, and 8 trillion yen thresholds, increasing significantly year after year.
日本政府近期在内阁会议上批准了2025财年预算案，其中防卫预算达8.7万亿日元，较2024财年增加9.4%，再创历史新高。自2023财年起，日本防卫预算连续突破6万亿、7万亿、8万亿日元大关，防卫预算连年大幅增长。
According to Japanese media reports, the focus of Japan's defense budget for fiscal year 2025 is on enhancing its so-called "counterstrike capabilities." Specifically, the defense budget for the new fiscal year will primarily be allocated to three key areas.
据日媒报道，日本2025财年防卫预算的重点放在提升所谓“反击能力”方面。具体来看，新财年防卫预算将主要投向3个领域：
The first is to enhance long-range standoff strike capabilities. To this end, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (JMOD) has requested a budget increase of 32% compared to fiscal year 2024. It plans to allocate 297.6 billion yen ($1.88 billion) for the development of hypersonic missiles and the construction of related production facilities and 283.2 billion yen ($1.79 billion) for the establishment of a satellite constellation system. The system will deploy multiple small satellites to enable the detection and tracking of targets such as warships, vessels, and missiles.
一是提升防区外远程打击能力。日本防卫省为此申请的预算较2024财年增长32%，计划投入2976亿日元用于研发高超声速导弹并建设相关生产基地，投入2832亿日元用于建设卫星星座系统。该系统将通过部署多颗小型卫星，实现对军舰、船只和导弹等目标的探测追踪。
The second is to purchase large quantities of weapons and equipment. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) plans to place bulk orders for attack drones. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will allocate 428.8 billion yen ($2.71 billion) to purchase three new multi-purpose frigates and one submarine, and spend 135.9 billion yen ($859 million) on reconnaissance aircraft and other planes. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) plans to allocate 242.7 billion yen ($1.53 billion) for the procurement of transport aircraft, refueling aircraft, and trainer aircraft, and for upgrading existing fighter jets. In addition, the JASDF will spend 205.2 billion yen ($1.29 billion) to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the US and 108.7 billion yen ($687 million) for joint development with the UK and Italy of the next-generation stealth fighter.
二是大批采购武器装备。陆上自卫队打算批量订购攻击型无人机。海上自卫队将斥资4288亿日元购买3艘新型多用途护卫舰和1艘潜艇，并花费1359亿日元购买侦察机等飞机。航空宇宙自卫队则计划投入2427亿日元采购运输机、加油机、教练机等并对现有战机进行改造升级。此外，航空宇宙自卫队还将斥资2052亿日元用于从美国采购F-35战斗机，投入1087亿日元用于同英国、意大利联合研发下一代隐形战斗机。
The third is to strengthen space and cyber combat capabilities. For fiscal year 2025, the JMOD has requested a budget increase of 115% for space operations and 29% for cyber operations compared to the previous year. The budget includes 123.8 billion yen ($782 million) for the research and development of next-generation military communication satellites, and the establishment of a new Space Operations Squadron. At the same time, the JMOD plans to invest 97 billion yen ($613 million) in the establishment of a cloud system, which will serve as a unified command platform to facilitate information and intelligence sharing.
三是强化太空和网络作战能力。2025财年，日本防卫省为太空和网络作战领域申请的预算分别较上年增长115%和29%，计划投入1238亿日元用于研发制造下一代军用通信卫星，还将新设“宇宙作战团”。同时，防卫省还打算投入970亿日元用于建立“云系统”，依托这一系统搭建统一指挥平台，实现信息情报共享。
Since the end of WWII, Japan's right-wing force has never abandoned its pursuit of becoming a major political and military power. However, the provisions in Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, which renounce war, prohibit the use of force and forbid maintaining land, sea, air, and other military forces, have become an obstacle to the right-wing's aspirations. However, in recent years, Japan has made significant adjustments to its security policies, continuously increased defense spending and vigorously developed offensive capabilities, which in fact has undermined its pacifist constitution. These actions of Japan have not only caused anxiety among its own citizens but will also introduce factors of instability to regional peace.
二战结束以来，日本右翼从未放弃“政治大国梦”和“军事大国梦”，但日本和平宪法第九条中有关“放弃战争、放弃行使武力、不保有陆海空及其他战力”的条款，成为日本右翼“圆梦”的障碍。然而，日本近年来大幅调整安保政策，连续增加防卫预算，大力发展进攻能力，事实上架空了和平宪法。日本的种种动向不仅让日本民众陷入不安，更将给地区和平带来不稳定因素。
Japan's military buildup is largely driven by the implicit approval and backing from the US. To advance its so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy," the US has consistently eased military restrictions on Japan. In 2024, the US and Japan significantly updated the US-Japan Security Treaty. The positioning of the US-Japan relationship has evolved from a defensive alliance, where the US plays a dominant role and Japan acts as a loyal supporter, to a more integrated military alliance that encompasses both offensive and defensive capabilities. Japan is willing to act as the "henchman" of the US, aiming to use this opportunity to expand its influence on the international stage and become a "normal country" with military capabilities. However, if Japan becomes a nation capable of war without fully reflecting on its WWII aggression, the Asia-Pacific region will face significant security threats.
日本扩充军备的背后，离不开美国的默许和支持。为推进所谓“印太战略”，美国不断对日本进行军事松绑。2024年，美日大幅更新《美日安保条约》，将美日关系定位从“美主日从”的防御性同盟升级为“攻守兼备”的军事同盟。日本甘心充当美国的马前卒，意在借机扩大自身在国际舞台上的影响力，成为能拥有军事力量的“正常国家”。然而，对二战侵略罪行缺乏反省的日本一旦成为“能战之国”，亚太地区将面临严重安全威胁。
While strengthening military cooperation with the US, Japan is also using military alliances to court so-called "like-minded" countries. Since 2022, Japan has signed Reciprocal Access Agreements (RAA) with Australia, the UK, and the Philippines, forming quasi-alliance relationships.
与美国加强军事合作的同时，日本还通过军事纽带拉拢所谓“志同道合”国家。2022年以来，日本先后与澳大利亚、英国以及菲律宾签署《互惠准入协定》，结成“准同盟”关系。
Given Japan's not-too-distant history of militarist aggression, Japan's military and security moves are closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community. For Japan, the correct choice is to truly respect the security concerns of its neighbors, learn from historical lessons, act prudently in the field of military security, and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the larger international community through concrete actions.
由于近代日本军国主义的侵略历史，日本的军事安全动向一直备受亚洲邻国和国际社会高度关注。对日本而言，切实尊重周边邻国的安全关切，深刻汲取历史教训，在军事安全领域谨言慎行，以实际行动取信于亚洲邻国和国际社会才是正确选择。
(The author is from China Institute of International Studies.)
（作者单位：中国国际问题研究院）
