Prime Minister Kishida's defense spending tax hike will be implemented next year

In response to the decisions on three documents, including the "National Security Strategy," Prime Minister Kishida indicated his intention to increase defense spending and accelerate the strengthening of defense capabilities.

The policy is to decide next year when the tax hike will be implemented to cover the increase in defense spending, but the focus will be on whether the Liberal Democratic Party will be able to consolidate the opinions of those who oppose it.

On the 16th, the government decided on three new security-related documents, including the "National Security Strategy," which is the basic policy of diplomacy and defense, in order to drastically strengthen defense capabilities.

At a press conference, Prime Minister Kishida said, "This is a major shift in postwar security policy. We will accelerate efforts to strengthen our defense capabilities." He reiterated his policy of aiming to increase defense spending to reach the level of

The policy is to cover the shortage of financial resources by raising the three taxes of corporate tax, income tax, and tobacco tax. It is something that should be dealt with as a responsibility," he asked for understanding.

However, the timing of the tax increase will be limited to ``an appropriate time after 2024,'' and the ruling party will discuss it again next year.

However, the opposition parties are all in opposition to the tax increase, and the focus will be on whether the LDP will be able to consolidate the opinions of the LDP, who are opposed to the idea of ​​securing financial resources other than the tax increase.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Kishida explained that the possession of the "counterattack capability" specified in the "National Security Strategy" is indispensable as a deterrent to dissuade an opponent from attacking, and stated that "the three non-nuclear principles and the exclusive defense We will not change our firm adherence to peace and our path as a peace-loving nation."

Izumi, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has pointed out that it is unclear whether the defense-only policy will be upheld. expected.