The secret budget request made by Japan's Defense Ministry seeks an increase in military spending.

As the government seeks to significantly increase Japan's military power, On Wednesday the Defense Ministry of Japan presented a budget proposal for the upcoming year without outlining the costs of missiles for nuclear attacks and numerous other weapons as well as its development goals.

Increased funding for a defense system against North Korean threats

According to North Korea's increasing missile and nuclear threats, the South Korean Defense Ministry has requested a rise in spending on developing a domestic three-axis defense system of 9.4%, but has left out of the budget a contentious plan to locally construct a light aircraft carrier.

JAPAN’S STATE-RUN CENTERS TO GIVE COVID-19 VACCINES UNDER AGES 18 -64

Highlights –

• Japan’s state-run centers to give COVID-19 vaccines under ages 18 - 64.
• The centers in Tokyo and Osaka were set up last month by the Defense Ministry.
• The ministry last week expanded the scope to accept people from ...

JAPAN CONSIDERS ALLOWING PHARMACISTS TO ADMINISTER COVID-19 VACCINES

Highlights –

• Japan considers allowing pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
• The plan comes as Japan aims to boost vaccination process.
• Online bookings for inoculations for the elderly began from Monday.
• Around 30 pre...

JAPAN OPENED ONLINE COVID-19 VACCINATION SLOTS FROM MONDAY

Highlights –

• Japan opened online COVID-19 vaccination slots from Monday.
• Residents of the capital's 23 wards aged 65 and above made appointments via the Defense Ministry's website.
• Bookings for the vaccination center in the ci...

CHINA’S SHANDONG CONDUCTED ROUTINE EXERCISE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Highlights –

• China’s Shandong conducted routine exercise in the South China Sea.
• Last week, the Chinese Defense Ministry urged the U.S. to restrain its front-line forces.
• China said that the exercises were completely legitimate ...

JAPAN LIKELY TO DEPLOY F-35B FIGHTER JET TO AN ASDF BASE

Highlights –

• Japan likely to deploy F-35B fighter jet to an ASDF base.
• The deployment of the aircraft is aimed to check China’s maritime assertiveness around the area.
• However, uncertainty remains over the local community consen...

JAPAN’S GSDF, U.S. MARINE CORPS & FRENCH ARMY TO HOLD JOINT DRILL

Highlights –

• Japan GSDF, U.S Marine Corps & French Army to hold joint drill.
• The joint drill will be held at a training ground in southwestern Japan, likely around May.
• This is said to be the first large-scale exercise that Japan ...

JAPAN SDF BEGINS COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ON MONDAY

Highlights –

• Japan SDF begins COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday.
• Around 14,000 medical staff from JSDF will be inoculated.
• The Director of Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital in Tokyo was the first to be vaccinated.
• The four...

JAPAN RESTRICTS SCRAMBLING OF FIGHTER JETS AGAINST CHINESE MILITARY AIRCRAFTS

Highlights –

• Japan restricts scrambling of fighter jets against Chinese military aircrafts.
• The Japanese fighter jets would only be used for those who threaten the country’s airspace.
• Japan’s ASDF is currently upgrading it...

JAPAN WELCOMES BRITAIN’S PLAN TO DISPATCH AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKE GROUP

Highlights –

• Japan welcomes Britain’s plan to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group.
• Japan Defense Minister had a video conference call with British counterpart.
• The aircraft carrier strike group will be dispatched in the we...

U.S. SHOWING OFF FORCE BY SAILING WARSHIPS THROUGH TAIWAN STRAIT: CHINA

Highlights

• The ministry in a statement on its official microblog said “We firmly oppose this and we monitored the ships passage from the sea and air”

• The US Navy in a statement said their Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS John S. McCai...

TAIWAN PUT ON ALERT AND DEPLOYED SHIPS AND JETS OVER CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Highlights –

• Taiwan put on alert and deployed ships and jets over Chinese aircraft carrier.
• A Chinese aircraft carrier the Shandong sailed through the strait in the Taiwan region.
• Taipei sent out six warships and eight aircraft to sta...

JAPAN GOVERNMENT DEFENSE BUDGET TO BE AROUND $51.5 BILLION FOR FISCAL 2021

Highlights –

• Japan government's defense budget to be around $51.5 billion for fiscal 2021.
• The general account budget is said to top 100 trillion yen for the 3rd year straight.
• The Cabinet Office is expected to approve the draft b...

JAPAN’S LDP APPROVES CABINET’S DRAFT PLAN ON LONG-RANGE ANTI-SHIP MISSILES

Highlights –

• Japan’s LDP approves Cabinet’s draft plan on long-range anti-ship missiles.
• On Friday, the Cabinet will approve the above mentioned plan.
• The standoff missile will be capable of launching itself from land as w...

JAPAN’S FIRING RANGE OF SURFACE-TO-SHIP MISSILES NOT AIMED TO STRIKE ENEMY BASES

Highlights –

• Japan’s firing range of surface-to-ship missiles not aimed to strike enemy bases.
• The firing range is to strengthen standoff defense capability for the country.
• Japan opposition lawmakers have raised concerns over b...

JAPAN AIMS TO BOOST CYBERSECURITY CAPABILITIES ALONG WITH ASEAN

Highlights –

• Japan aims to boost cybersecurity capabilities along with ASEAN.
• The world has become more dependent on virtual communications after the outbreak of coronavirus.
• Official members of ASEAN will participate in seminars to ...

MOTHERS URGE TO BAN U.S MILITARY AIRCRAFTS FLYING OVER DAYCARE CENTER IN OKINAWA

Highlights –

• Mothers urge to ban U.S military aircraft flying over daycare center in Okinawa.
• The group of mothers visited the Okinawa Defense Bureau to discuss the issue.
• The mothers are said to have complained about the problem for ...

JAPAN SDF TO SEND NURSES IN HOKKAIDO DUE TO SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Highlights –

• Japan SDF to send nurses in Hokkaido due to shortage of health care workers.
• The nurses will be sent to Asahikawa city in Hokkaido.
• The central Hokkaido city has reported a series of cluster infections.
• Asahika...

OSAKA FACING A SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS ATTENDING SEVERE COVID-19 CASES

Highlights –

• Osaka facing a shortage of healthcare workers attending severe COVID-19 cases.
• Osaka Gov, on Monday, asked help for help to the central govt. to send nurses from SDF.
• Japan Defense Ministry mentioned that they are ready t...