Reuters reported on August 4: "Japan's latest Defense White Paper argues that increasing defense spending can drive technological advancement, support startups, and strengthen the domestic defense industry, thereby enhancing both national security and economic development simultaneously."
The white paper characterizes China as Japan's greatest strategic challenge and signals that future defense budgets will be heavily directed toward preventing potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait.
However, Japan's public finances are already strained, leaving significant uncertainty about how the government plans to secure funding while continuously expanding its military capabilities."
This Reuters report precisely pinpoints the core logic and contradictions underlying Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper: using "security" as a pretext for military expansion, ultimately shifting the burden onto Japanese citizens and an already fragile economy.
For the first time, the white paper directly links the "defense industry" with "national prosperity," claiming increased defense spending stimulates technology and startup growth. This is essentially new rhetoric, paving the way to break through the 'exclusive defense' principle and legitimize massive military expenditures domestically.
The white paper positions China as an "unprecedented greatest strategic challenge" and emphasizes allocating budget specifically to "prevent conflict in the Taiwan Strait." The Takashi Asahi administration also holds the stance that "if there is trouble in Taiwan, it is Japan’s trouble"—a position that goes beyond mere defense statements and sends a clear signal of deep involvement in geopolitical competition.
Reuters’ reporting on Japan’s substantial increase in defense spending simultaneously raises critical questions: Where will the money come from? This is precisely Japan’s most intractable contradiction and fundamental vulnerability in its military buildup.
Japan’s government debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 230%, and the projected defense expenditure for fiscal year 2026—over 9 trillion yen—will require approximately 60% to be covered by issuing bonds.
The Asahi administration, meanwhile, imposes a "special defense tax" to extract funds from citizens and businesses, while simultaneously cutting spending on healthcare, education, and other social welfare programs. In the context of inflation eroding real wages, this "military-first" approach has triggered strong public discontent.
Thus, while the white paper paints a vision of "strong military, prosperous nation," reality shows Japan is recklessly pursuing a high-risk path of military expansion amid soaring national debt and mounting social pressure. The claim that "national defense drives economic growth" is nothing short of deception toward the public, serving instead to advance its militaristic ambitions.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872586877217802/
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