As an Axis power in World War II, Japan has left indelible scars on Asian countries, especially Japan, in history.
However, despite the fact that these historical problems have not yet been completely resolved, Japan has shown a series of military expansions in recent years.
Japan's recently announced huge military budget has attracted widespread attention from the international community, and this amount is as high as 7The 7 trillion yen budget, or about $54 billion, is the culmination of a decade-long trend of growth in Japan's military spending.
This trend is a sign that Japan may be gradually abandoning its traditions"Exclusively defensive"with"Peaceful development"Route.
Against this backdrop, we have to ponder the question of whether Japan can really continue to adhere to the path of peaceful development
The growth of Japan's military spending over the past decade has shown a clear upward trend.
According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Japan's defense budget planning plan in the next five years (2023-2027) will invest a total of about 43 trillion yen in defense spending, which further confirms that Japan's military expansion is not a temporary intention, but a planned and step-by-step action.
The remarkable increase in Japan's military spending, as well as its departure from traditional policies, has undoubtedly brought great unease to its neighboring countries. After all, given what Japan has done historically, any move about its military expansion would alarm neighboring countries.
In addition, Japan's per capita military expenditure is higher than that of China, and the ratio of military spending to GDP has also reached 128 percent, all of which indicate that Japan is actively expanding its military capabilities.
For Japan, there seems to be a deeper strategic calculation behind this series of actions. Japan has been trying to get rid of its status as a defeated country and want to regain as one"Normal"state, and this includes the realization of the military"Normalization"。
The late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo once proposed"Recapture a powerful Japan"This shows that Japan is always looking to strengthen its international standing. To achieve all this, it is undoubtedly an important way to increase military strength.
However, it is worth mentioning that the United States has shown a certain degree of acquiescence and encouragement to Japan's military rise.
U.S. ** Biden called on Japan to increase military spending, and this statement provided for Japan's military expansion to a certain extent"Legitimacy"。
In the eyes of the United States, a stronger Japan could largely share its responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific region, while also serving as an important force against China's rise.
Japan's military movements are not just an isolated incident, but a landmark change in the military balance in the Asia-Pacific region and even globally.
In doing so, it may cause other countries in the region to adjust their security strategies in response. This has undoubtedly increased the possibility of an arms race and posed a new challenge to regional peace and stability.
In the face of such a situation, our country is undoubtedly under tremendous pressure. On the one hand, China's rejuvenation has provided Japan with a market opportunity to break free from the shackles of history and pursue greater space for development
On the other hand, this has also aggravated the grim task of safeguarding China's territorial integrity. Against this background, how China and Japan should properly handle their relations is undoubtedly an issue worth pondering.
To sum up, the growth of Japan's military spending and the strategic considerations behind it are undoubtedly an important issue in current international relations.
We must be highly vigilant on this issue, not only out of consideration for the past, but also as a sign of responsibility for the future.