Japan boosts military might

Special response units for natural disasters are part of the new plan

The Japanese Government has approved a record defence budget for the coming year, paving the way for upgrading a wide range of weapons and equipment.

Spending plans

2001: $43.9bn

2001/6: $223bn

2001 growth: 0.4%

Annual growth to 2006: 0.7%

The planned improvements include extending the range and efficiency of anti-submarine aircraft and replacing some existing fighters and cargo planes.

Correspondents say the plans - particularly any extension in the range of Japanese military aircraft - will cause concern to Asian neighbours, in view of the defence-only constitution imposed on Japan after the Second World War.

They may also raise objections among pacifists in Japan itself.

Mid-air refuelling

The defence budget of $44bn for the year starting April 2001 was approved by the Japanese National Security Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, Yoshiro Mori.

Well-paid: Troops on their way to an earthquake disaster drill

Defence Agency chief Toshitsugu Saito said the latest plan aimed to replace the military's P-3C jets and C-1 cargo craft at a cost of $300,000m over the next decade.

"We cannot find the functions and systems we require anywhere in the world, and decided to develop the aircraft ourselves," he said.

New mid-air refuelling tankers will increase the range of fighter aircraft to cover almost the whole of East Asia.

The security council also backed plans to set up two "special response" units to deal with guerrilla attacks and natural disasters.

Five-year plan

The budget for 2001 is an increase of 0.4% over the initial budget for the year 2000. An average increase in military spending of 0.7% per year is foreseen over the next five years.

Total defence expenditure for the five years starting in April 2001 is projected to be $223bn.

Japan's spending on its military, known as the Self-Defence Forces, currently ranks among the world's highest.

However, the Defence Agency points out that more than half the money is spent on wages and other non-equipment expenses.

Article nine of the country's constitution states that Japan rejects war or the threat of force as a means of settling international disputes.