Minister of Defense Kihara spoke about the opinion that was raised at the Ministry of Defense's expert meeting held on the 19th, calling for a review of defense spending, which totals 43 trillion yen over five years, taking into account the weaker yen and higher prices. ``I am not considering revising the plan,'' he said, reaffirming his intention to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities within a fixed range.
On the 19th, the Ministry of Defense held a meeting of experts to consider measures to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities based on three documents related to security. Regarding defense spending, which totals 43 trillion yen a year, he pointed out that in light of the weak yen and rising prices, ``we should not make reviewing it a taboo and instead discuss it on an honest basis.''
Regarding this, Minister of Defense Kihara told reporters after the cabinet meeting on the 20th, ``The scale of the defense force development plan, which is about 43 trillion yen, is the amount decided by the cabinet and indicated as a level that can achieve a fundamental strengthening of defense capabilities.'' ” he said.
He then stated, ``It is the role of the Ministry of Defense to steadily strengthen the necessary defense capabilities within this range, and we are not considering reviewing the defense development plan.'' I once again showed my thoughts on what I would like to do.