Japan's biggest defense budget ever is built for a China showdown

Japan’s Cabinet has approved its largest-ever defense budget, exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion), as part of a five-year plan to double defense spending to 2% of GDP. This expansion aims to enhance Japan’s strike-back capabilities, coastal defense, and unmanned warfare systems, primarily to counter perceived threats from China. Japanese leaders have expressed concerns that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait could directly impact Japan’s security, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicating potential Japanese involvement if China takes military action against Taiwan. The budget focuses on shifting Japan’s military posture from purely defensive to offensive by acquiring long-range strike weapons, including domestically developed cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and US-made Tomahawk and Joint Strike Missiles. Missile defense remains a priority, with investments in advanced radar systems, Aegis-equipped vessels, and upgraded surface-to-air missiles to protect against ballistic and hypersonic threats. Additionally, Japan plans to establish the SHIELD drone network, incorporating various unm