RE-ARMING IN JAPAN

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 15

RE-ARMING IN JAPAN

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) TOKYO, Oct. 29.

Japan’s post-war Army celebrated its twenty-second anniversary today with a military parade that failed to reveal any new weaponry. Much of the armour and artillery on display was aging American equipment and all the equipment shown was developed before 1960. It might almost have been the Army’s justification for the sophisticated new weapons it will receive under a controversial five-year (1972 to 1976) defence build-up approved by the Government earlier this month. New Japanese-built tanks and armoured cars, helicopters, front-line jet fighters and anti-submarine destroyers are included in expenditure of 4,630,000 m yen (about $12,200m) — almost double the spending in the previous five years. Government opponents have severely criticised the increase as unjustified at a time when Japan is establishing good relations with China and the Soviet Union, and when Asia in general is movings toward detente. The Prime Minister (Mr Tanaka), in a speech to the parade, justified the build-up as being necessary to provide an “effective defence capability.”