In order to strengthen its counterattack capability, Japan will purchase American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.

(AFP)

[Compiled Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] In the face of regional threats brought by authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, and North Korea, Japan plans to purchase US-made BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida disclosed the purchase quantity for the first time on the 27th, saying that in order to strengthen Japan's defense, it plans to purchase up to 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States

"Our government's plan is to buy 400 cruise missiles," Kishida said during questioning by the House Budget Committee, according to the Defense Post, without elaborating, citing military sensitivities.

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The Ministry of Defense of Japan budgeted 211.3 billion yen (approximately NT$48 billion) for the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles in the 2003 budget. Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense believed that if the purchase quantity was announced, the national defense capabilities might be exposed, so it did not announce it; but The opposition party asked the Kishida government to announce the number of pieces purchased.

Previously, Japan's Sankei Shimbun reported on the 13th that Japan regards "standoff missiles" as an important weapon to strengthen its counterattack capabilities, so as to target missile bases or headquarters outside the enemy's threat circle when something happens in the region. Wait for a counterattack.

Japan is currently improving and mass-producing the domestically produced "Type 12 anti-ship missile" (12SSM). However, considering the increasing threat of China's invasion of Taiwan, in order to avoid the lack of improvement of the Type 12 anti-ship missile, it has also decided to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States.