Japan’s defense ministry is requesting a nearly 12 per cent budget increase that includes two warships with advanced radar and long-range cruise missiles as it further fortifies the nation's military in the face of North Korean threats and Chinese military advancement.
The record 7.7 trillion yen ($52.5bn) request for the 2024 fiscal year marks the second year of a rapid five-year military buildup under a new security strategy prime minister Fumio Kishida’s government adopted in December.
