Japan today announced a historic revision of its defense doctrine, deciding to acquire the ability to strike enemy bases.

The country will also double its defense spending in fiscal year 2027, Kyodo media reported, quoted by BTA.

This is a drastic change in the post-war security policy of the Asian island nation, which until now was developed according to its pacifist constitution.

As the security situation around Japan becomes unstable due to threats from China and North Korea, Tokyo, which has rejected military action for 77 years, will be able to launch direct attacks on another country's territories in the event of an emergency.

Acquiring a capability to deter attacks by outside forces, called a "counter-strike capability," is enshrined in three key government defense documents, including the National Security Strategy updated by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office.

Critics note that the constitution only allows Japan to act in self-defense.

However, this is about to change because, according to the new security strategy, Tokyo must have the ability "to launch effective counterstrikes on enemy territory as a minimum measure of self-defense."

The National Security Strategy says Japan is facing "the most severe and complex security situation" since World War II.

But the government vows to maintain its commitment to a "only self-defense policy" and Japan "not to become a military power," Kyodo noted.

To significantly strengthen its defense capabilities, Tokyo aims to increase its annual defense budget to 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in the 2027 fiscal year, which ends in March 2028. Japan has long capped its annual defense budget to about 1 percent of GDP, or just over ¥5 trillion ($36 billion).

At today's meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Kishida said the government would set aside about 8.9 trillion yen (about $65 billion) for the defense budget in fiscal year 2027.

The initial defense budget for fiscal 2023 is expected to reach a record 6.5 billion yen (about $47 billion), up from 5.2 trillion yen ($38 billion) this year.

Japan is radically changing its defense policies