On December 26, 2025, the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved the allocation of 9 trillion yen or US$58 billion for the country’s defense budget in 2026. This is equivalent to 2% of Japan’s total national production. This catapulted Japan to third place among the countries with the largest defense budgets in the world, following the US and China.

The military budget increase rests on Japan’s National Security Strategy (NSS) formulated in 2022. Japan expanded its defense budget at the behest of the US. Reaching the 2% defense spending target was originally planned for 2027. However, the US compelled the Takaichi government to implement it ahead of schedule.

Imperialist Japan’s ruling class has long dreamed of restoring its “former glory.” Increasing military spending provides the Japanese government hope to revive its three-decade stagnant economy. As an imperialist power, it needs to expand its sources of raw materials, influence, and territory to invest its surplus capital.

In 2023, Japan formed its own Free and Open Indo-Pacific plan to shape the strengthening of its military presence and expanding its influence in Asia. It signed with Marcos the lopsided military agreement between the Philippines and Japan called the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). This was endorsed and supported by the Senate, including Akbayan’s pro-US senator Risa Hontiveros.

Strengthening Japan’s war power

The NSS includes the purchase and development of missile systems to strengthen the country’s defense. Goaded by the US, Japan also purchased a “package” of missiles worth $3.64 billion in January 2025. In November 2025, Japan again bought weapons from the US, including bombs and ammunition for the fighter planes of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force worth US$82 million.

An aging and shrinking population, and the difficulty of maintaining a large number of troops, prompted the Japanese government to focus on building unmanned weapons systems. To strengthen coastal defense, it plans to build a large number of aerial, underwater and sea-surface drones for surveillance and defense. The system is called SHIELD (Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defence). This also includes larger drones for airspace defense, “standoff” missiles, and surface-to-ship missiles. These missiles can hit targets up to 1,000 kilometers away.

The Japanese government also aims to revive the defense industry through joint projects and arms sales to other countries. In 2026, it plans to allot 160 billion yen (US$1 billion) to develop a “6th generation fighter jet” with Britain and Italy under the Global Combat Air Programme. The projects also include artificial intelligence-controlled drones that can fly alongside jets.

The Japanese government plans to raise defense funds by increasing corporate and tobacco taxes, and by raising employees’ income taxes in 2027.

Japanese people’s resistance

In recent months, the Japanese people have launched protest actions against their government’s growing militarism. Filipino migrants under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Migrante joined these actions.

The groups called on all Japanese workers, peace advocates, and all migrants and immigrants in Japan to unite and resist the Japanese government’s militarist trajectory. They said the ruling class must not be allowed to use “nationalism” to divide the people.