East View on Military Affairs | Japan Rapidly Increases Hundreds of Ammunition Depots, "Exclusive Defense" Has Become Empty Talk

Planning for conflict and eager to prepare for war, Japan's actions to expand its military and armaments are becoming more frequent and more specific. Recently, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that from 2027 to 2032, Japan will adopt standardized designs to build 130 new ammunition depots. The locations of these depots are concentrated in northern and southwestern Japan, making it clear that the ambition to stockpile arms against neighbors is evident.

What are the Japan Self-Defense Forces planning? What impact will this have on the regional situation?

The Global News of the Central Radio and Television Station provides an interpretation for you.

Quick Overview of Opinions

Newly Built Ammunition Depots in Japan

What are they stockpiling?

In addition to conventional bullets and shells, they are mainly used to store new types of missiles. The Type 25 high-speed glide bomb and the Type 25 land-based anti-ship missile have just been finalized and are beginning to be delivered to the Ground Self-Defense Force. The period from 2027 to 2032 will be the peak production and deployment period for these two new types of missiles. Additionally, the next five to six years will also coincide with the delivery cycle of 400 "Tomahawk" cruise missiles purchased from the United States. New missiles require new support and storage facilities.

What calculations are behind the eagerness to increase ammunition depots?

Of the 130 planned new ammunition depots, 65 locations have already been confirmed, concentrated in Hokkaido, Kyoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa, and other areas, which are in the northern and southwestern parts of the Japanese archipelago. Clearly, Japan has already taken preparatory actions aimed at the Russian Far East. Regarding the Taiwan Strait, the Japan Self-Defense Forces have ulterior motives.

As former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama recently stated at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, under the current trend, Japan is acquiring offensive capabilities that it should not have had in the past. Hatoyama emphasized that Japan must not aim to strike other countries and should firmly adhere to the bottom line of not waging war again.

Japan's military ambitions are rapidly expanding

Establishing over a hundred ammunition depots is not merely a simple expansion of storage capacity, but a tangible footnote to Japan's rapidly expanding military ambitions. From Hokkaido to Okinawa, the locations of the ammunition depots outline a clear offensive axis, and its strategic intentions have far exceeded the scope of "exclusive defense." This series of actions seriously undermines regional strategic balance, exacerbates the risk of an arms race in Northeast Asia, and casts a heavy shadow over peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. History serves as a warning; militarism is a dead end. The international community should remain highly vigilant against the dangerous schemes of Japan's right-wing forces and resolutely curb their attempts to retrace the old path of external expansion.

Source | Global News of the Central Radio and Television Station

Commentator | Wei Dongxu

Production | Fan Meng

Review | Yang Qiong

Supervisor | Liu Yiyao