http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200805/20080520492404.html
美駐日大使西佛敦促東京 擴增國防支出
法新社╱劉學源 2008-05-20 23:35
(法新社東京二十日電)美國駐日本大使西佛今天敦促採取和平主義的日本擴增國防經費,因應東北亞各國不斷擴張軍備的情勢。
西佛告訴記者,「我認為,在美日同盟的檯面上,日本佔盡便宜。我們的實力已大幅擴增,因為與十年前相較,我們在防衛上支出更多。」
西佛又說:「那對日本有利,我不認為我們提議日本進行檢討是不公平作法,這或許是棘手抉擇,但日本必須增加國防支出。」
美國根據與日本簽署的安保條約,提供日本保護。日本自二次世界大戰戰敗以來,一直是正式的和平主義國家。
西佛指出,日本的國防支出目前一直限制在不超過國內生產毛額的百分之一,而日本的亞洲鄰邦卻不斷擴增軍事預算。
他說,中國的軍事支出於過去十年,每年平均增長百分之十四點二,而南韓國防預算過去十年總共增加百分之七十三。
西佛又說:「本地區各國的國防經費不斷擴增,只有日本是例外。」
日本最近尋求透過採購高科技軍備來強化國防,包括購買擁有反飛彈能力的六艘神盾級驅逐艦在內。此外,日本也尋求採購一架F-22隱形戰鬥機,但仍等待美國國會批准。
西佛表示,「如果不改革採購作法,日本無法獲得與所花代價相應的價值」,敦促日本在國防合約招標上展現更大透明性和競爭性。
他說,利用多年軍事合約以及加強與美方軍事合作,將可協助日本降低採購成本。
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080520/pl_afp/japanusdefencemilitary_080520140051;_ylt=ApADYCKJleh44YVmVUHt5KysOrgF
US ambassador urges Japan to boost defence spending
1 hour, 58 minutes ago
TOKYO (AFP) - The US ambassador to Japan on Tuesday urged the pacifist nation to boost its defence spending in response to a military build-up in the region.
"I think the Japanese are getting a bargain in the (US-Japan) alliance on what we bring on the table," ambassador Thomas Schieffer told reporters.
"Our capabilities have increased dramatically because we are spending more on defence than we were 10 years ago," he said.
"That helps Japan. I don't think it is unfair of us to suggest that Japan needs to look at that and make an assessment. A hard choice, perhaps, but Japan needs to spend more on defence," he added.
The United States has a security treaty under which it protects Japan, which has been officially pacifist since its defeat in World War II.
Japan's defence spending is currently limited to the equivalent of one percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) while its Asian neighbours are increasing their military budgets, Schieffer noted.
China's military spending has grown on average 14.2 percent a year over the past decade while South Korea's defence budget has increased by a total of 73 percent in the same period, he said.
"A lot of people in this neighbourhood are spending a lot more money on defence and yet the Japanese are not," Schieffer said.
Japan has recently sought to beef up its defence by buying high-tech military equipment including six Aegis destroyers fitted with anti-missile capabilities.
It is also seeking to buy an F-22 stealth fighter, but is waiting approval from the US Congress.
"But (Japan) cannot get the value for the yen that it spends if it doesn't reform its procurement practices," Schieffer said, urging greater transparency and competitiveness in awarding defence contracts.
He said that the use of multi-year military contracts and increased military cooperation with the United States would help Japan to reduce procurement costs.