Japan's Defense Drift: The Unintended Consequences of Embracing Militarism Japan's defense strategy has undergone significant changes in recent years, driven by concerns about China's growing assertiveness and the need to strengthen its counterstrike capability.
The country's 2022 five year defense strategy set an ambitious goal of doubling defense spending to approximately 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
As part of this effort, Japan is integrating drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and long range missiles into its military arsenal.