日本防衛省昨公布2016軍事預算，金額高達5.9萬億日圓(約新台幣1萬3000億)，比今年高出2.6%，陸方有分析認為，抗戰勝利閱兵在即，日本大幅增加軍事預算，恐引起大陸強烈反彈。

據日媒《產經新聞》報導，防衛省計畫加強島嶼防衛體制，故在預算中提出2016年度希望購買36架可應用在飛機運輸、配備大砲的機動戰車；購買12架的新型運輸機，以及運輸物資與救護的多用途直升機；同時亦將預算計入為落實日美太空環境偵測計畫的所需費用，以及增加反網路戰的專業部隊與經費等。只是目前正值大陸抗戰勝利紀念閱兵之際，日本卻仍選擇在此時宣布增加軍事預算，挑釁意味濃厚，中日關係可能因此更加緊張。而陸方認為，日本加強部署島嶼防衛系統，亦明顯針對釣魚台爭議。

日本防衛省軍事預算在小泉執政的2002年達到頂峰，從此之後便一路下滑，不過自安倍2013執政以來，預算就連3年增加，成了一個漂亮的V型反轉，甚至有日本政府相關人士稱，自從安倍執政以來，苦巴巴的防衛省就迎來了好日子，要錢根本不求人，連講話聲音都比以前大很多。

Japan’s 2016 military budget will reach 5.9 trillion yen (approximately 1.3 trillion NTD), or 2.6% higher than this year’s, the Japan Defense Ministry announced yesterday. Some mainland Chinese analysts believe that with China’s military reviews commemorating victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan right around the corner, Japan’s sharp military budget increase is likely to draw strong reactions from the mainland.

According to a report by Japan’s Sankei Shimbun [Business News], the Defense Ministry plans to strengthen the islands’ defense systems. Its budget accordingly proposes buying 36 aircraft transportable cannon-equipped combat vehicles, 12 cutting-edge transport aircraft, and multirole freight transport and rescue helicopters. The budget also includes expenses for implementing U.S.-Japan space environment surveillance plans and provides for more specialized units and expenses for counter cyber warfare. With mainland China in the midst of military parades commemorating victory over Japan in the War of Resistance, Japan’s choosing this moment to announce its military budget hike has strong provocative overtones, and Sino-Japanese relations are likely to grow more tense as a result.  Mainland China furthermore believes that Japan’s strengthening of its islands-wide defense systems is clearly targeted at the Diaoyutai [Senkaku Islands] disputes.

Japan’s Defense Ministry’s military budget reached its pinnacle in 2002 during Koizumi’s administration, then fell steadily. But since Abe took office in 2013, the budget has risen 3 years in a row, forming a neat V-shaped turnaround. Some relevant figures in the Japanese government have even said that since Abe took office, good days have come for the long suffering Defense Ministry. They no longer need to beg for money, and they even speak much louder.