By Liu Yi and Liu Yang
刘毅 刘旸
Recently, the Japanese House of Representatives passed the defense budget of 7.9 trillion yen(USD 52 billion) for the new fiscal year. This amount represents a 16.5 percent increase from last year, reaching a new historical high. The continuous rise in defense budget provides assurance for the updating of weapons and equipment by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), adjusting combat readiness deployments, and strengthening the military alliance between Japan and the US.
日前，日本众议院通过了7.9万亿日元的新财年防卫预算。这一数额较去年增加16.5%，再创历史新高。持续上涨的防卫预算，为日本自卫队更新武器装备、调整战备部署以及强化日美军事同盟关系提供了保障。
As a key ally of the US in East Asia, Japan has actively worked with Washington’sso-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy." Japanhas maintained consistency with US policies in politics, diplomacy, and economics andtaken various measures in the military domain to accelerate integration into the US military operational system.
作为美国在东亚的关键盟友，日本积极配合美所谓“印太战略”，不仅在政治、外交、经济等方面与美政策保持步调一致，还在军事领域采取多种措施，以加快融入美军作战体系。
Japan accelerates the pace of equipment updates to enhance interoperability with US military equipment. In recent years, the JSDFhas been vigorously promoting equipment updates, aiming to reduce problems encountered during joint operations with the US military and improve joint operational efficiency. In 2022, the US Air Force withdrew F-15C/D fighter jets from the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, and planned to deploy more advanced fighter jets on a rotational basis. In line with US military standards, the JSDF plans to introduce more US equipment. In the defense budget for the new fiscal year, Japan intends to procure anti-ship missiles carried by F-35 fighter jets,joint air-to-surface standoff missiles, and Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles for Aegis ships. In addition, Japan and the US plan to jointly develop unmanned aircraftto enhance the effectiveness of air combat through coordinated operations with manned aircraft.
加快装备更新步伐，提升与美军装备的互操作性。近年来，日本自卫队极力推动装备更新，目的之一是减少日美联合作战装备实操过程中出现的问题，提升联合作战效能。2022年，美空军从日本冲绳嘉手纳空军基地撤出F-15C/D战斗机，并计划轮换部署更先进的战斗机。同步对标美军标准，日本自卫队计划引进更多美式装备。在新财年防卫预算中，日本计划采购搭载在F-35战机上的反舰导弹、联合防区外空对地巡航导弹，以及用于宙斯盾舰的“战斧”巡航导弹等。此外，日美还计划联合研发无人僚机，以配合有人战机协同作战，提高空中作战效能。
Japan strengthens military deployments in the southwest direction in response to US military operational concepts. In the view of the Japanese side, the US military's planned Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) is a convergence of the respective military strategic interests of the both sides, and Japan can provide relevant support for the implementation of EABO by the US military in the southwest direction. The preparations made by the US military for EABO can also strengthen defense in the southwest direction of Japan. In recent years, Japan has been shifting its defense focus from the northeast to the southwest. In terms of military deployment, Japan has concentrated its defense forces, island defense forces, and surface-to-ship missile units on southwestern islands such as Okinawa, Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yaeyama, thereby enhancing its control capabilities over relevant islands and surrounding waters. In terms of reconnaissance and surveillance, Japan utilizes the geographical advantages of the southwestern islands to strengthen intelligence collection in surrounding airspace and waters. In 2022, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) deployed a coastal surveillance unit of about 700 personnel at a base on Yonaguni Island to collect relevant information on aircraft and vessels passing through.In terms of base construction, Japan has begun to build an air force base on MageshimaIsland to increase the number of airports and strengthen the depth of defense.
加强西南方向战备部署，响应美军作战构想。在日方看来，美军筹划的“远征前进基地作战”，是双方各自军事战略诉求的利益交织点，日本可以在西南方向为美军实施“远征前进基地作战”提供相关支撑。而美军为“远征前进基地作战”所做的准备，也可以强化日本西南方向的防御。近年来，日本推动防卫重心从东北转向西南。在军力部署上，日本在冲绳、宫古、石垣和八重山等西南诸岛，集中部署警备部队、离岛守卫部队以及岸舰导弹部队，借此增强对相关岛屿及周边海域的控制能力。在侦察监视上，日本利用西南诸岛的地理优势，加强对周边海空域的情报收集。2022年，日本陆上自卫队在与那国岛基地部署了一支大约700人规模的“沿岸监视部队”，收集来往飞机舰艇相关情报。在基地建设上，日本已开始在马毛岛建设空军基地，以增加机场数量，加强防御纵深。
Japan increases the scale and frequency of joint training with the US military to strengthen the so-called "deterrence" of the Japan-US alliance. It is reported that Japan and the US are seeking significant adjustments and upgrades to the US-JapanTreaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and plan to reorganize the US Forces Japan command. Besides, according to the Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation, the two countries have initiated an alliance coordination mechanism to continuously expand the scope of integrated joint operations between the JSDF and the US military. In recent years, the scale and frequency of Japan-US joint exercises have increased simultaneously. While expanding the exercise area, they have paid more attention to the synergy between their operational concepts and breakthroughs in exercise projects. Statistics show that the number of joint training sessions between Japan and the US has increased fourfold in the past 10 years. The JGSDF and the US Marine Corps conducted Iron Fist joint island seizuretraining in Kyushu and Okinawa from February to March this year. Compared with previous years, the content of this year's joint training continued to increase, and the area expanded to the islands southwest of Japan.
加大与美军演训规模频率，强化日美同盟所谓“遏制力”。据悉，日美正谋求对《日美安全保障条约》进行大幅调整升级，计划重组驻日美军司令部。另外根据《日美防卫合作指针》，两国已启动“同盟协调机制”，持续拓展日本自卫队和美军一体化联合作战的领域内涵和区域外延。近年来，日美联合演训规模频率同步增加，在拓展演习区域的同时，更注重作战概念的对接和演习项目的突破。据统计，日美联合训练次数近10年间增长4倍。今年2月至3月，日本陆上自卫队与美国海军陆战队在九州、冲绳进行“铁拳”联合夺岛训练。与往年相比，今年的联训内容持续增加，地域拓展至日本西南方向岛屿。
Japan's perverse actions such as developing offensive military strength, continuing to significantly increase the defense budget, and actively tying itself onto the US "chariot" will only make Japan go further and further away from its pacifistconstitution. In addition to exacerbating its own security dilemma and development difficulties, it will seriously threaten regional peace and stability. In this regard, regional countries must remain highly vigilant.
发展进攻性军事力量、持续大幅增加防卫预算、主动将自己绑上美国“战车”……种种倒行逆施之举，只会让日本在背离和平宪法的道路上越走越远，除了加剧自身安全困境和发展困局，还会严重威胁地区和平稳定。对此，地区国家需保持高度警惕。
(The authorsare from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.)
（作者单位：军事科学院）
