What’s the message for China as Japan weighs US$500 billion defence surge?

Drones, AI battlefield management, and multi-domain warfare including cyber and space likely to be key elements of build-up, analyst says

China could face a substantially more capable Japanese military over the coming years as Tokyo considers nearly doubling its five-year defence spending to as much as 80 trillion yen (US$508 billion), according to media reports in Japan.

Observers said such a build-up could strengthen Japan's ability to deter or respond to People's Liberation Army operations around Taiwan and the East China Sea, as well as withstand attacks and sustain prolonged operations in a regional conflict.

The reported increase from roughly 43 trillion yen under the existing programme remains subject to government negotiations as Japan prepares to revise its three key national security documents by the end of the year.