KCNA Commentary on Japan's Arms Buildup

Pyongyang, November 3 (KCNA) -- Japan is planning to increase military expenditure over two times than the present one.

Shortly ago, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party announced that it intends to increase the military expenditure which has so far been earmarked within one percent of GDP to more than two percent of GDP, while citing the increased defense capability and the new national security strategy as its general election commitments for the House of Representatives.

In view of the fact that the Defense Ministry of Japan has already decided to allocate 5 479 700 million ¥ for "defense budget" for the year 2022, the highest-ever in history, it is not hard to guess the huge size of the military expenditure when it exceeds that figure.

Japan, one of the countries that top the world list in amount of military spending, seeks the highest "leap" in the scope of its growth.

Can such reckless arms buildup guarantee Japan its security.

The Tokyo Shimbun said in its recent editorial that in case the defence capability goes beyond the "abstinent" range allowable under the Article 9 of the Constitution, Japan will be mired in the "dilemma of security" making the situation instable through fierce arms race in the region, adding that such a case must be prevented.

In a lecture in Tokyo Metropolis on October 27, former PM Fukuda, with China and others in his mind when referring to the election commitment of the party to increase the defense budget, said that if the neighboring countries are enemies, it is hard for Japan to defend itself, no matter how hard it may try. It also added that it is needed not to make enemies.

Japan's arms buildup which will lead to increased capability of the "Self-Defense Forces" for fighting a war will spark off vigilance and hostility of the international community toward Japan, a war criminal state which has a bloody history, incite an arms race in the region and amplify the instability of situation.

In fact, the largest military exercises in decades which Japan is holding with the involvement of all the units of the Ground SDF under the pretext of "unprecedented grim security environment" have aroused great concern and denunciation of regional countries.

Japan is saddled with huge domestic debt amounting to 1 216 463 400 million ¥ as of the end of the last year. This means every Japanese has debt amounting to about 9.7 million ¥.

In the current situation where businesses are becoming bankrupt one after another and unemployment is increasing under the COVID-19 crisis, how much more its citizens must sweat to cover the huge military costs, which is expected to more than double?

The Japanese reactionaries' behavior of rushing headlong into militarism without concern for the livelihood of its people is clear reminiscent of its imperial days when it bled the people of its colonies white and emptied its national treasury into achieving its "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".

In no circumstance can an increase in Japan's military expenditure ensure its peace, security and development.

Japan should put a stop to its rash arms buildup which will only precipitate its self-ruin. -0-