Be vigilant! Japan's continued construction of ammunition depots raises concerns
According to Kyodo News on September 18th, sources said on the 18th that Japan plans to build more ammunition depots in its Self Defense Force facilities starting from the 2024 fiscal year, possibly for storing long-range missiles, as it will acquire the ability to strike enemy bases.
According to reports, this plan is part of Japan's efforts to increase the number of such warehouses by 130 on top of the current approximately 1400 by fiscal year 2032. Last December, Japan decided to acquire a strike capability that could deter attacks, marking a significant shift in the security policy of this pacifist country.
Sources say that the Ministry of Defense is not expected to disclose the types and quantities of ammunition that will be stored in these warehouses. These warehouses will become targets of attack in crisis situations, which may raise safety concerns for local residents.
We plan to build these warehouses in nine Ground Self Defense Force facilities in Hokkaido, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa. Earlier this fiscal year, construction of four warehouses had already begun at the Self Defense Force facilities in Aomori and Oita.
The report also stated that the Japanese Ministry of Defense has requested an allocation of 12.4 billion yen in the national budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which will be drafted in December this year, to build these warehouses. The new fiscal year will start in April next year.
With this funding, the Ministry of Defense will begin investigating the construction of warehouses at six facilities in Hokkaido, two warehouses at a base in Miyazaki, five warehouses at a training ground in Okinawa, and acquiring land to build three warehouses at a base in Kagoshima.
Japan plans to deploy long-range missiles with the ability to strike enemies starting from the fiscal year 2026, but the deployment location has not yet been determined.