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In Japan, the coming doubling of the defense budget is causing immense controversy, because this rearmament of the country will be carried out to the detriment of a project that had always been considered a priority: the reconstruction of the Fukushima region, devastated in March 2011.
With our correspondent in Tokyo, Bruno Duval
For ten years in Japan, taxpayers have been subject to a specific tax, the proceeds of which are allocated to the reconstruction of the Fukushima region. It brings in regarding 3 billion euros per year to the State, but from 2023, half of this amount will go to National Defence. The rearmament of the country was announced Friday by the Prime Minister, Fumio Kishidaand it needs to be funded.
Some Tokyoites oscillate between disbelief and indignation: I thought it was a gag and then no, obviously. I smile, but it’s to cry “says this man. For this Japanese woman, this decision will further affect the region which has been on the ground since 2011, and she does not hesitate to speak of cruelty.
A budget heist that will “ make the situation worse »
« The reconstruction has taken a lot of delay, and this budgetary hold-up will make the situation even worse. However, for eleven years, thousands of displaced people have been waiting for only one thing: to finally return home. We can’t make these poor people linger! “, also replies this Tokyoite.
The Japanese Prime Minister had promised that he would listen to the Japanese. But for this Japanese, Fumio Kishida, like all his predecessors, isolates himself in his ivory tower and ” do as you please ».
On Friday, a narrow majority of respondents approved the increase in the defense budget, but now 53% oppose it. Three-quarters of the Japanese disapprove of the diversion, for military purposes, of the budgets that were devolved to the Fukushima region.
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