Aiming to drastically strengthen Japan's defense capabilities, the council of both the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito agreed to set the level of defense build-up over the next five years at approximately 43 trillion yen.
Regarding financial resources, after reducing expenditures, etc., we confirmed the policy of dealing with the shortfall, including tax measures.
On the evening of the 7th, the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party held a council headed by Deputy Governor Aso and Vice-President of the North, and the secretary-generals of both parties and the Chairman of the Policy Research Council also attended.
Under this plan, the government will establish a new "Defense Buildup Plan" from next fiscal year to replace the "Midterm Defense Plan", which sets the scale of the total defense budget and procurement targets for defense equipment. Both parties agreed to set the annual defense build-up level at approximately 43 trillion yen.
Regarding the financial resources that will be necessary after that, in addition to reducing expenditures, it is confirmed that the "surplus" that was not used during the fiscal year and non-tax income will be used, and that the shortfall will be dealt with, including tax measures. Did.
In addition, we agreed on the policy of not raising taxes next fiscal year.
Within the ruling party, there is an opinion that it is necessary to clarify the policy, including future tax increases, by the end of this year, while others say that discussions on tax increases should take time and proceed carefully from next year onwards. The focus will be on how concretely the government and ruling parties can show a path to securing stable financial resources by the end of the year.
Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Hagiuda "Tax is the last resort"
Hagiuda, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, told reporters, "We will secure as much financial resources as possible in a way that does not impose a direct burden on the people, such as through expenditure reforms and the use of surplus funds, and consider taxes as a last resort." "We won't do it because we don't have the money."
Komei Takagi, Chairman of the Policy Research Council, "Discussed in the Tax Commission, the really inadequate part"
Komeito's political affairs research chair Takagi told reporters, "From now on, we will make various efforts such as reducing expenditures and using non-tax income, and finally discuss the insufficient part at the tax system research committee. Discuss. I don't think tax items will come up until the details are concrete, but I am aware that discussions will deepen in the future on how to determine the burden on individuals and how to avoid burdens and burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises amid high prices. ' said.
Communist Kokuta National Affairs Committee Chairman "After all, GDP is 2%, I want to ask for withdrawal"
Kokuta, chairman of the Communist Party's Diet Affairs Committee, said at a press conference, "I think that defense spending of about 43 trillion yen over five years will end up at 2% of GDP. A country with a constitution that says it will not engage in war has increased its military power to this extent. "The question is, what are you going to do about it? I want it to be withdrawn, because it is nothing more than a threat to peace and livelihoods."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno "Details, size, and financial resources will be decided at the end of the year"
At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said about the breakdown of the defense budget, which is expected to increase from next fiscal year, "We will build up the necessary content with an emphasis on the so-called seven pillars, such as 'stand-off defense capability.' , 43 trillion yen.We will continue to make adjustments while fully cooperating with the ruling parties so that we can make an integrated decision on the content, scale, and financial resources by the end of the year.”