Commentary: Asia is rearming fast - but counting the wrong kind of military power
What decides how long wars can be fought is regenerative capacity, with Asia not yet paying for it, says an analyst.
Asia is rapidly militarizing, but its approach to measuring military strength is misguided, according to an analyst. The region's defense spending has surged to US$681 billion in 2025, with Japan and India increasing their budgets by 9.7% and 8.9% respectively. However, governments still prioritize counting fleets of aircraft, ships, and missiles, rather than considering the ability to quickly replace and repair military equipment.
This regenerative capacity is what determines how long conflicts can be sustained, not just the quantity of weapons. Japan's Nissan Oppama plant, which previously produced cars, may instead build military drones, highlighting the potential for civilian factories to be repurposed for military use. Yet, the question remains: who will fund the factories, repair shops, and component suppliers that keep military equipment operational in peacetime? The answer is crucial for determining a country's true military power.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
