Japan's defence policy will see major change this year

Significance

Key decisions over strategy and budget due before year-end will reshape Japan's defence posture and capabilities. The government seeks to double defence spending and acquire for the first time the means to strike targets on enemy territory, and to enshrine the country's defence forces in the constitution.

Impacts

• Military confrontation around Taiwan will increase in the coming years, putting pressure on Tokyo to prepare for potential conflict.
• Constitution revision would have no immediate practical effect, but would be an ideological inflection point with long-term implications.
• Proposed spending increases would give Japan the world's third-largest defence budget, after the United States and China.