The first meeting of the Ministry of Defense's panel of experts was held to discuss measures to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities based on the three security-related documents, and Minister of Defense Kihara stated that while gaining the understanding of the public, the Ministry of Defense will consider measures to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities. He expressed the idea that it is necessary to steadily move forward with the development of defense capabilities, while simultaneously considering the future development of defense capabilities.
The Ministry of Defense is chairing Keidanren Honorary Chairman Sadayuki Sakakibara, and has brought together economic and economic leaders, including former Minister of Defense Morimoto, in order to consider measures to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities based on the three security-related documents that were formulated a year ago. An expert meeting was established, consisting of 17 experts in fields such as defense and science and technology, and its first meeting was held on the 19th.
At the meeting, Defense Minister Kihara said, ``In order to protect our country, we must strengthen the Self-Defense Forces.While gaining the understanding of the people, we will steadily advance the fundamental strengthening of our defense capabilities. ``I would like to concurrently consider how to proceed with the development of defense capabilities in the future.''
Chairman Sakakibara said, ``Rather than making it a taboo to review the 43 trillion yen scale for defense spending over five years, we should consider what should be a more effective level, how the public should bear the burden, and specific financial sources based on reality. We need to have a fresh discussion based on our honest opinions."