By Chen Yang
陈洋
When answering a question about Japanese Ministry of Defense's recent hype-up of the so-called “China threat” in its annual defense budget request, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at the regular press conference on September 1 that the hype-up “reveals Japan,s ambition to breach its commitment to the pacifist constitution and embark on its old path of military expansionism again. This sends a dangerous signal to the world that Japan is seeking to subvert the post-WWII international order. This calls for international vigilance .”
针对日本防卫省日前在年度预算请求中渲染所谓“中国威胁”一事，中国外交部发言人汪文斌9月1日在例行记者会上一针见血地指出其背后包藏着突破和平宪法束缚、重走军事扩张老路的野心，这向世界传递出一个危险信号，即日本企图颠覆二战后建立的国际秩序，应当引起国际社会的高度警惕。
The Asahi Shimbun reported on September 1 that the Japanese Defense Ministry August 31 decided on the annual defense budget request for 2023. The 5.5947 trillion Japanese Yen request (about 39.87 billion US dollars ) aimed to achieve Fumio Kishida administration’s goal of thoroughly fortifying defense capacity created a historical new high, up 3.6% from last year.
据《朝日新闻》9月1日报道，日本防卫省8月31日敲定了2023年度预算请求金额。为实现岸田文雄内阁提出的彻底加强防卫能力的目标，此次防卫预算请求金额为5.5947万亿日元（约合2785亿元人民币），较去年增长3.6%，再次创下历史新高。
It's worth noting this figure is not the final defense budget request. As the Defense Ministry has listed many items that don't have a specific number now, the final request may well exceed 6 trillion (about 42.76 billion US dollars) or approach 6.5 trillion (about 46.33 billion US dollars), the first time the budget request crosses the 6 trillion line.
值得注意的是，5.5947万亿日元并非日本2023年度预算请求金额最终值。由于防卫省罗列了很多暂时没有确定具体金额的项目，所以最终的预算请求金额可能突破6万亿日元，或达到6.5万亿日元左右，这将是日本防卫预算首次突破6万亿日元。
The website of VOA reported that the Liberal Democratic Party asked to increase defense budget to no less than 2% of GDP in the next five years, meaning an annual increase of around 1 trillion Japanese Yen.
美国之音网站的报道称，自民党要求今后5年把防卫预算在国内生产总值（GDP）中的占比提高到不低于2%的水平，这意味着日本的防卫预算每年大约增加1万亿日元。
Japan's incessant increase of defense budget will further hollow out the “defense only” policy. “Defense only” is a defense policy that Japan has abided by since the end of WWII, which means its defense forces are only allowed to stage defensive operations within its territory and territorial seas without launching attacks at bases on foreign soil or sending troops overseas or preparing aggressive weapons. Yet this policy has been constantly undermined in recent years, and has been gradually replaced by the thought of “preventive attack” and obtaining “counterattack capability”.
日本不断加大防卫预算投入，将进一步掏空“专守防卫”政策。“专守防卫”是日本二战后长期坚持的防卫方针，即日本的防卫力量只能在日本国土及领海内进行防御作战，而不得对他国领土内的基地实施攻击，不得向海外派兵，不得准备进攻性武器。然而，“专守防卫”这一方针近年来却不断松动，甚至逐渐被“预防性攻击”思想以及获取“反击能力”所替代。
Yomiuri Shinbun reported earlier that the Kishida administration plans to deploy 1,000 cruise missiles with a range of over 1,000km on the southwestern islands, and to upgrade the weapons and equipment on a large scale, including spending a huge amount of money on introducing America's F-35 stealth fighter jet, and Global Hawk and Reaper UAVs, and the latest SPY-7 radar on Aegis weapon system and SM-6 remote air defense missiles. Japan has continuously increased its defense budget to sustain its military expansion, which means the long-standing “defense only” policy will become an empty shell.
按照《读卖新闻》稍早前的报道，岸田政府计划在西南诸岛部署1000枚射程在1000公里以上的巡航导弹。同时，岸田政府还计划推进武器装备的大规模更新换代，包括斥巨资引入美国F-35隐形战机、“全球鹰”和“死神”等无人机，以及最新型SPY-7宙斯盾雷达系统、“标准-6”远程防空导弹。日本不断加大防卫预算投入，正是为了支撑军备力量的扩张，这意味着战后日本长期坚守的“专守防卫”政策将名存实亡。
Japan's incessant increase of defense budget will seriously threaten regional peace and stability. Japan has shown an obvious right-leaning tendency in recent years and has never truly reflected on its aggressive history. What's more, it has kept increasing the defense budget and strengthening military capacities with America's encouragement, connivance and support, in return for which it is an eager and willing flunky in deploying America's Asian-Pacific strategy. Japan has taken an active part in the various small cliques formed by the US in the region and followed the big brother in making trouble and throwing its weight about, becoming the destroyer of regional peace and stability.
日本不断加大防卫投入，将严重威胁地区和平稳定形势。日本近年来右倾化态势明显，并且缺乏对曾经侵略历史的切实反省。与此同时，在美国近年来的鼓励、纵容和支持下，日本得以不断提升防卫预算水准，强化军备力量建设。作为“回报”，日本则紧密配合美国的亚太战略部署，甘愿充当美国的战略附庸，不是积极参与美国在亚太地区组建各种小集团，就是积极跟着美国在亚太地区搬弄是非、耀武扬威。日本正成为亚太地区和平稳定形势的破坏者。
Since the end of WWII, whether Japan's defense budget exceeds 2% of GDP is seen as a key indicator of its compliance with the pacifist constitution. The ever-rising defense budget, which seems set to surpass 2% of GDP in the next five years, means Japan is getting closer to breaking away from the restrictions of post-WWII world order and re-militarizing itself. Once it is in command of a powerful military and free from the restrictions of the pacifist constitution, Japan will doubtlessly become a major threat to the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific and the world at large.
战后长期以来，日本防卫预算开支是否超过GDP的2%，被视为检验日本是否遵守和平宪法的关键指标。防卫预算的不断增加，特别是可能在未来5年内突破GDP的2%，意味着日本距离摆脱战后限制、再度武装已然不远了。一个拥有强大军备能力又不再受和平宪法限制的日本，无疑将成为亚太乃至世界和平稳定的一大威胁。
Japan should learn lessons from history, stick to the path of peaceful development, and respect the security concerns of its Asian neighbors. It should especially watch its words and deeds in the military and security fields in order to gain the trust of its neighbors and the international community.
日本应认真汲取历史教训，坚持走和平发展道路，切实尊重亚洲邻国的安全关切，在军事安全领域谨言慎行，真正取信于邻国和国际社会。
Editor's note: This article is originally published on haiwainet.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
