World military spending has reached a new high. This reflected Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the tense situation in the Middle East. The international community should stop the flow of military expansion and work together to tackle common issues such as global warming.
According to the 2023 report released by Sweden’s Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total global military spending will increase by 6.8% from the previous year to $2.443 trillion (approximately 378 trillion yen). This is the highest amount since 1988, which is comparable.
Comparing the military expenditures of each country (table), Russia’s military expenditures increased by 24% from the previous year, while Ukraine’s military expenditures increased by 51% from the previous year, with military expenditures accounting for 58% of total government expenditures. The number of Israeli attacks on Gaza has increased by 24% compared to the previous year.
The military spending of each country, which exceeds even that of the Cold War era of the 1980s, has resulted in the death and injury of many civilians, the creation of countless refugees, and the destruction of cities.
Military spending is growing rapidly not only in combat zones but also in Asia. China’s military spending has increased by nearly one-third of that of the United States, which has been the world’s largest for 29 consecutive years. The threat from China has led to an arms race in East Asia, with Japan increasing its defense and military spending by 11% and Taiwan by 11% compared to the previous year.
SIPRI researchers point out, “Prioritizing military power risks falling into a spiral of action and reaction in an unstable geopolitical and security situation.” Military buildup aimed at avoiding armed conflict must be avoided from provoking conflict.
It is clear that even regional conflicts have a large impact on the world, as seen in the invasion of the breadbasket of Ukraine, which caused a global food crisis and soaring prices, and the destabilization of the situation in the Middle East, which led to an energy crisis. An arms race could eventually lead to an accidental large-scale conflict, threatening the very existence of humanity.
In response to the increasingly tense situation in East Asia, the Fumio Kishida Cabinet decided to double the defense budget, which had been kept at around 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), to 2%, including related budgets. Proceed with the transformation.
However, the role of Japan, which has a pacifist constitution, is not to participate in an arms race, but rather to stand at the forefront of the international community, stem the tide of military expansion, and persistently advocate the path to peace.
Tags: Editorial World military spending stop flow military expansion Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web
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