Japan’s defence chief, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, told the BBC that the country must strengthen its military capability in order to keep a war out of the Indo‑Pacific region. He highlighted the need to revisit Japan’s pacifist constitution, especially Article 9, which renounces the use of force in dispute resolution.
Koizumi said that bolstering defence, “reinforcing its alliance with the United States, and expanding collaboration with like‑minded countries” would build a multi‑layered deterrence that is critical for preventing a new war.
He pointed out that Japan can now sell or transfer lethal weapons to 17 countries, a change that includes the US, UK, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand.
The defence minister stressed that China’s expanding maritime forces and North Korea’s missile tests constitute the biggest challenges to security. He also highlighted the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands as a key flashpoint, noting that Chinese aircraft carriers have been moving beyond the First Island Chain.
Japan is under pressure to roll back Article 9. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assumed office in October 2025, has advocated revising the constitution while keeping Japan’s commitment to peace. Koizumi said that the shift to a more robust defence posture requires approval from the public via a national referendum.
Japan’s defence expenditure will rise to 2% of GDP, a figure that is double the post‑war benchmark. The new budget will fund surface‑to‑offshore missiles and unmanned drones for land and underwater use. Analysts predict that this could make Japanese defence firms more competitive globally.
The United States‑Japan alliance remains core to Japan’s security strategy, but recent U.S. leaders have called for burden‑sharing. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the era of the U.S. subsidising Japan’s defence was over.
Koizumi concluded that while Japan can play an independent role in the region, it must protect itself—an effort that requires transparent constitutional reform and a supportive local defence industry.
Original source: BBC News, Japan ramping up defence is “critical” to prevent war, Defence Minister Koizumi tells BBC.
