自民党じみんとう総裁そうさい選せん 安全あんぜん保障ほしょう政策せいさくめぐり5ご候補こうほが論戦ろんせん 日曜にちよう討論とうろん

Five candidates for the LDP presidential election appeared on NHKs Sunday Debate and exchanged views on security policies, including the handling of defense spending.

Former Minister for Economic Security Motohisa Kobayashi said, It would be wrong to raise it just because the United States told us to; we should decide for ourselves.

Compared to when the National Security Strategy was revised in 2022, the strategic environment and methods of warfare have changed, and the threats have increased.

We must also continue to strengthen missile defense systems and other facilities, and a defense budget of 2% of GDP is not enough, he said.

Former Secretary-General Motegi said, Japans defense capabilities should not be decided by someone else, but by Japan itself.

I think defense spending will probably increase to 2% of GDP, but whats important is to think for ourselves about what to strengthen, steadily build up what is necessary, and carry it out.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said, The National Security Strategy of 2022 summarized our current recognition that we are surrounded by a more severe and complex security environment than ever before, but the trend has become even stronger since then.

He said, The proper order is to discuss things again, including what is happening in Ukraine and Israel.

Former Minister for Economic Security Takaichi said, Warfare is evolving to include new domains such as space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic waves, so we will continue to increase defense spending in order to strengthen the necessary defense capabilities.

In order for the supreme commander to make the right decisions, information capability is important, and I would like to establish a National Intelligence Agency to enable accurate decision-making.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi said, How much defense capability we develop and strengthen should be a decision made independently by Japan, and based on the National Security Strategy and other policies, the most important thing is to steadily increase defense spending and its contents toward the goal of 2% of GDP.

In a situation where the security environment is extremely severe, it is only natural to constantly review it, he said.

On cooperation with opposition parties and handling of corporate and organizational donations: Regarding how to cooperate with opposition parties, all five expressed a positive stance toward expanding the coalition framework, on the condition that there is agreement on basic policies.

Furthermore, they argued that it is necessary to strengthen transparency regarding the handling of corporate and organizational donations.