Japan could find itself financially unable to carry out its joint missile defense program with the United States, Reuters reported today (see GSN, Sept. 11).
"The first half of the missile defense plan is complete, but we are considering what to do about the remaining half," Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa was said today to have told his visiting U.S. counterpart, Robert Gates.
"I understand how important missile defense is, but the financial authorities are taking a harsh view. However, I want to overcome this somehow," Kitazawa added, according to an official in Tokyo.
Tokyo and Washington have been collaborating on deployment of sea-based Standard Missile 3 systems and land-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 batteries, along with associated technology and research. It was not immediately clear what parts of the effort might be endangered.
The intent of the program is to protect Japan from nearby threats, essentially meaning North Korea.
Japan has seen seven straight years of cutbacks to its defense budget, which was down to $51.9 billion for the fiscal year that closed in March. Additional reductions are anticipated, according to Japanese news reports, as the new Democratic Party ruling government tries to prop up the nation's economy and manage national debt (Isabel Reynolds, Reuters, Oct. 21).