Japan Accelerates Military Expansion, Defense Budget Request Reaches New High

According to news from Japan on the 19th, the Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to apply to the Ministry of Finance for a defense budget for the fiscal year 2027 that will reach a historic high. Recently, the Japanese government has accelerated its military expansion and armament, raising concerns both domestically and internationally.

Japan's "re-militarization" process has clearly accelerated

Reporter Li Weibing: According to news from Japan on the 19th, the total amount of the budget application for the fiscal year 2027 by the Japanese Ministry of Defense will increase to 10 trillion yen, setting a new record. The budget includes the development of underwater-launched hypersonic missiles that are difficult to attack by the enemy as a means of attacking enemy bases, as well as advancing research to enable unmanned submarines to have long-range missile launch capabilities. Additionally, the budget application includes the development of low-cost, rapidly producible attack drones with long-range flight capabilities, as well as advancing research to enhance analysis and command and control capabilities with "tactical AI satellites." Furthermore, previous reports from Japan indicated that the Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to introduce American artificial intelligence to assist commanders in decision-making speed through battlefield analysis, target selection, and issuing commands.

Analysis points out that Japan is accelerating its escape from the constraints of the peace system

Reporter Li Weibing: Since the inauguration of Sanae Takaichi, Japan's re-militarization process has shown a clear trend of acceleration: in March of this year, Japan officially deployed the Type 25 land-based anti-ship missile in Kumamoto Prefecture, with a range of about 1,000 kilometers, far exceeding Japan's territorial range and possessing obvious offensive attributes; in April, the Japanese government passed a cabinet resolution to lift the ban on the export of lethal weapons; in July, it officially established the "National Intelligence Agency"; in August, the Japanese Ministry of Defense released the 2026 version of the "Defense White Paper," claiming to further seek "the capability to attack enemy bases." Analysts have pointed out that the various operations of the Takaichi administration in expanding military preparations send a clear signal: Japan is accelerating its escape from the constraints of the post-war peace system and reshaping the post-war military framework, having abandoned its strategic positioning of strictly defensive posture in favor of seeking proactive offense.

The Takaichi administration continues to deny and beautify its history of aggression

Reporter Li Weibing: Alongside the military expansion and re-militarization, the Takaichi administration's political orientation also includes denying and beautifying its history of aggression. On August 15, Japan's unconditional surrender day, Sanae Takaichi offered a ritual fee called "Tamatsukuri" at the Yasukuni Shrine, which represents Japan's militaristic history of aggression, and four cabinet members, including Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, visited the shrine for worship. More than 80 years after the war, representatives of the Japanese government not only fail to deeply reflect on their history of aggression but also plot to amend the peace constitution, continuously pushing for military expansion, gradually leading Japan in a dangerous direction of "new militarism."

The dangerous trends of the Takaichi administration have sparked ongoing protests domestically and internationally

Reporter Li Weibing: The dangerous trends of the Takaichi administration have received ongoing protests from the peace-loving and progressive people in Japan and have raised alarms among peace-loving people worldwide. "Oppose war," "Protect Article 9 of the Constitution," "Takaichi Cabinet step down"… The Japanese people are protesting the Takaichi administration's military expansion and constitutional amendments through rallies and study sessions, calling on the Japanese government to face history and avoid repeating the mistakes of war.

Reporter Li Weibing: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov stated that the warlike posture of the Takaichi government is harming the security interests of neighboring countries, including Russia, and has a negative impact on the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. The Korean Central News Agency pointed out that Japan is "accelerating its transformation into a war state," and the international community should remain vigilant and must not allow Japan to become a military power. An article in the European magazine "Modern Diplomacy" argues that Japan's post-war so-called "peaceful nation" image, established under its "peace constitution" Article 9, has long been a mere facade. Instead, it is driven by radical right-wing ideology towards "new militarism."

News Link: American Palantir Technologies

According to reports from Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to introduce American artificial intelligence to assist commanders in decision-making speed through battlefield analysis, target selection, and issuing commands. Among them, American Palantir Technologies has been listed as one of the candidates for cooperation.

Palantir Technologies has close ties with the U.S. military

Palantir Technologies was founded in the United States in 2003 and is a technology company that provides support to the U.S. government and related agencies using big data analysis and artificial intelligence technology. Its products are widely used in various fields such as intelligence analysis, military weapon development, and healthcare. The company has close ties with the U.S. military, having received investment from the CIA in its early development. Its government clients mainly include the CIA, FBI, NSA, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. At the end of July 2025, Palantir signed a long-term contract worth up to $10 billion with the U.S. Army to provide data support and software services for U.S. Army operations over the next ten years.

Palantir develops the "Maven AI System" for U.S. military use

According to relevant news from the U.S., the U.S. military uses the "Maven AI System" battlefield intelligence platform developed with Palantir as a military planning tool, which incorporates the "Cloud" model from the American AI company Anthropic. The "Maven AI System" can collect data from surveillance devices, logistics facilities, sensors, and intelligence departments to generate directive suggestions for commanders' decision-making reference. When formulating strike plans, the system can propose target suggestions, provide precise location coordinates, and prioritize targets based on urgency. When combined with "Cloud," the system can accelerate operational progress, weaken the enemy's counterattack capabilities, turning what would have taken weeks to plan into "real-time processing" actions.

Multiple sources indicate: The attack on the Iranian elementary school is related to the "Maven AI System"

On February 28 of this year, the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, resulting in an airstrike on the Mina'ab Elementary School in Iran, causing at least 175 deaths, most of whom were children. Multiple sources indicate that the original target planned by the U.S. military was a base of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adjacent to the Mina'ab Elementary School. The Mina'ab Elementary School had been separated from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps camp ten years ago and converted into a school, but due to outdated intelligence in the U.S. military database regarding multiple Iranian targets, the "Maven AI System" still designated the school as a target for strikes. In response, senior officials at Palantir stated that the battlefield intelligence platform is merely a support tool, and the responsibility for decision-making lies with the U.S. military.

Israel applies Palantir products in the Middle East battlefield

It is reported that, in addition to the U.S. military, Israel will deepen its cooperation with Palantir in 2024 and apply Palantir's developed artificial intelligence products in strikes against Lebanon, Iran, and the Gaza Strip, including airstrikes against senior members of Hezbollah in Lebanon and incidents involving the explosion of Lebanese communication equipment.