Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are reshaping strategy with AI, drones, and new budgets while monitoring regional threats and natural disasters.
Japan has submitted a 2027 defense budget plan totaling 5.8 trillion yen, marking a shift toward new warfare platforms. The government aims to boost counterstrike capabilities, develop unmanned weapons, and expand defense industry capacity while balancing domestic constraints.
Japan has signaled it could deploy the Self-Defense Forces under the right to collective self-defense in worst-case Taiwan scenarios. China has denounced the remarks and China’s foreign ministry has urged Tokyo to correct its stance as repair talks continue ahead of a Shenzhen summit.