Japan Defense Budget May Exceed Limit

The Japanese government, under pressure from the United States to strengthen its defense capabilities, on Wednesday approved a controversial defense plan that is likely to exceed a long-observed ceiling on military spending.

The $76.5-billion plan for 1986-1990 calls for an annual increase of 7.9% in defense spending, compared to growth in the 6% range over the last three years.

The new military budget amounts to roughly 1.04% of current projections for the nation’s gross national product for the five-year period, although a policy set in 1976 limits yearly defense spending to 1% of GNP.

Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe said the new plan will not necessarily exceed the 1% ceiling.

‘We Will Try’

“It depends on what the GNP will be. . . . We will try to respect the 1% ceiling,” he said.

The government has been restrained in raising spending on defense by strong anti-military sentiments in the nation, a constitutional ban on maintaining an offensive capability and attempts to stem budget deficits.

The United States, which has 51,000 troops in Japan and is committed to defending the country from attack, has repeatedly urged the government to upgrade its air and sea defenses.

Abe told reporters the five-year plan was “implemented with consideration of U.S. dissatisfaction with the 1% issue.”

Tried to Please U.S.

“We have done our utmost” to meet the U.S. requests, Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said after the military spending plan was formally approved at an extraordinary Cabinet session.

The 1% ceiling, which has become a symbolic figure for limiting military buildups, was adopted as part of defense guidelines set in 1976. The guidelines also called for Japan to develop the capability to repulse a “limited, small-scale” foreign attack, and defense officials have said the new plan is intended to complete that goal.

Opposition parties immediately denounced the plan.

“Adherence to the 1976 Cabinet-implemented policy limiting defense spending to 1% of the GNP has not only received support from the majority of the public but also has been a minimum control framework from the standpoint of Japan’s peace constitution,” the Japan Socialist Party said in a statement.

It referred to the plan as “a last resort taken in the face of U.S. demands by the Nakasone Cabinet pressed to alleviate U.S.-Japan trade friction.”

Linked to Trade

Japan’s huge trade surplus with the United States, nearly $37 billion in 1984, has at times been linked to the defense issue, with some people arguing that Japan can concentrate more on economic development because of its comparatively smaller defense burden.

Japan’s defense budget for the current fiscal year is about $13 billion, or 0.997% of GNP.

Salary increases recommended for all government employees, including 240,000 defense personnel, could put spending over the 1% ceiling this year.

According to news reports, the new five-year defense plan calls for the purchase of about 50 more P-3C anti-submarine patrol aircraft, 63 more F-15 fighters, 120 U.S. Patriot land-to-air missiles, 11 frigates and five submarines.