South Korean Media: Germany and Japan, Both Defeated Powers, Accelerate Re-Armament Amid Ukraine War and Taiwan Strait Tensions

¬ Dramatic Shift in International Situation Leads to Military Strengthening

Germany and Japan, both defeated powers from World War II, have officially initiated re-armament. After rebuilding their nations from the ruins of war, they have joined the ranks of Western developed nations, becoming members of the G7 (Group of Seven). Their national strength has greatly increased, and they are even seeking permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. Historically, both countries have been highly sensitive to the perception of "war criminal states re-arming," maintaining distance from military buildup and the use of force. However, analysts suggest that due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and U.S. military actions against Iran, the post-war international order has become unstable, prompting Germany and Japan to accelerate their re-armament efforts.

Germany: Building Europe’s Strongest Conventional Force

On the 22nd, the German Ministry of Defense released a military strategy titled "Comprehensive Concept for Military Defense." This marks the first time since the division of East and West Germany in 1955—when the Federal Armed Forces were established—that Germany has formulated an integrated military strategy assessing security situations and planning troop deployment during wartime.

The document's subtitle is "Responsibility for Europe." It states: "(Germany) will take the lead as the largest economic power in Europe and the largest non-nuclear NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally," aiming to "build Europe’s strongest conventional military force." The document further declares: "To protect Germany and European interests, we will intervene anywhere and accomplish missions." Analysts believe Germany has now fully broken away from its traditionally passive security posture, aiming to possess an army capable of operating anywhere in the world beyond mere domestic defense.

Germany’s justification for re-armament lies in the intensified Russian threat and a shift in U.S. military strategy. Germany assesses that: "The Russian threat has reached an unprecedented level," and "by 2029, Russia will invade NATO." By setting a specific date, Germany expresses firm confidence that Russia will launch an attack.

Germany also stated: "Russia is conducting hybrid warfare, threatening Europe comprehensively through long-range strikes," while "the United States is shifting its strategic focus toward the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific region." To relieve pressure on the U.S. and become a more reliable military ally, Germany must assume greater responsibility for European and Atlantic security.

Targeting 2039, Germany has proposed a "three-phase development plan." Phase 1 (current–2029): Build a "force ready for immediate combat" by concentrating on military expansion; Phase 2 (2029–2035): Become a leading nation within NATO; Phase 3 (2035–2039): Establish a military combining revolutionary technologies and possessing absolute technological superiority. To achieve this, Germany plans to expand its armed forces to 460,000 personnel—including 260,000 active-duty and 200,000 reserve troops—and acquire long-range precision strike weapons. In 2025, Germany revised its constitution, directly removing the cap on defense spending. The current defense budget amounts to €108 billion (approximately KRW 185 trillion), representing an increase of over 25% compared to previous years.

Japan’s Defense Budget Soars… Pushing for Constitutional Amendment

Japan is also accelerating re-armament in response to North Korea’s missile provocations. The Japanese government has set its 2026 fiscal year defense budget at ¥935.3 billion (approximately KRW 84 trillion), a record high, focusing on building "counterattack capabilities" that can be activated upon enemy attack.

In 2022, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration, Japan revised the "Three Security-related Documents," marking a major turning point in its defense strategy. Japan aims to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, resulting in substantial increases in military expenditure. Japan has officially launched research into long-range missiles and acquired the capability to destroy enemy missile launch sites in case of armed attacks—the so-called "counterattack capability." The Kōshō Asahina administration, which took office in October 2025, has already deployed long-range missiles in Kumamoto and Shizuoka Prefectures in March and increased defense spending to reach 2% of GDP through supplementary budget revisions in 2025.

This year, Japan will purchase a large number of drones, which will occupy a significant portion of the defense budget. Additionally, a budget of ¥100.1 billion (approximately KRW 930 billion) has been allocated for constructing the "Shield" (SHIELD) system to strengthen coastal defense. Under Japan’s post-war Constitution (Article 9), the country has long relied on U.S. defense guarantees. Article 9 permanently renounces war and the use of force, denies the state’s right to wage war, and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces.

However, with increasing demands from the U.S. for higher defense cost-sharing and ongoing instability in the international situation, Japan has gradually moved toward becoming a "normal country capable of fighting," beginning with the Abe Shinzō administration. In 2014, Japan revised constitutional interpretation to consider an attack on another country as an attack on Japan itself, thereby allowing the exercise of "collective self-defense." Two years later, the "Security Laws" were enacted, formally recognizing collective self-defense and significantly expanding the scope of activities for the Self-Defense Forces abroad.

Subsequent administrations under Kishida and Kōshō have accelerated military buildup. On the 21st, Japan revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment," completely lifting restrictions on arms exports. Japan has also established an expert committee to re-evaluate the three security documents and is pushing for constitutional amendment to enshrine the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863318264939528/

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