Summary
Japan's cabinet approved a record defense budget of over 9 trillion yen (about $58 billion) to enhance military capabilities due to increasing tension in East Asia. This budget aligns with Japan's five-year goal to raise defense spending to 2% of its GDP. The budget still needs approval from parliament and includes plans for new defense technology and updates to Japan's military strategy.
Key Facts
- Japan's proposed defense budget is over 9 trillion yen ($58 billion).
- The plan is part of a larger national budget for the fiscal year starting April 2026.
- The budget aims to raise defense spending to 2% of Japan's GDP.
- Japan plans to upgrade missile capabilities with more than 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) earmarked for this.
- The government plans to enhance coastal defense with unmanned systems, including drones.
- Relations between Japan and China have worsened, partly due to comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan.
- Japan aims to become the world's third-largest defense spender, following the U.S. and China.
- The budget includes measures to adapt to an aging, shrinking population affecting military personnel numbers.
