Japan Pushes for "Civilian Factories to Be Militarized" to Strengthen "Sustained Combat Capability"
According to Kyodo News on November 15, the draft outline of Japan's "Military Industrial Infrastructure Strategy," compiled in conjunction with the year-end revision of the "three security documents," has been disclosed.
To enhance "sustained combat capability" for prolonged conflict, the concept of "reserve production capacity" has been explicitly introduced. This refers to civilian manufacturing facilities that, during emergencies, can be swiftly repurposed for military equipment production. In response, the Japanese government will establish a support system offering loans and subsidies to participating enterprises.
To improve the efficiency of military equipment research and development and production, the government is also involved in industry restructuring aimed at consolidating operations. Multiple sources confirmed the disclosure on the 15th. The initiative is said to draw lessons from the experiences of the Russia-Ukraine war.
However, if private enterprises cooperate with the government in bolstering defense-related capabilities, it may trigger concerns about a return to a society under comprehensive military mobilization, leading to various forms of opposition.
Due to lower profit margins compared to consumer goods, many companies have exited the defense sector amid limited prospects for growth. This has adversely affected the operation of military equipment production facilities. The Japanese government now recognizes the inadequacy of domestic defense production bases and intends to reevaluate them.
To secure reserve military production capacity, new entities will be coordinated to acquire and retain key manufacturing facilities—equipment that may not be profitable under normal conditions but could meet surging demand during emergencies.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881933230245891/
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