Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has signed off a record defence budget in the face of territorial disputes.
A record defence budget has been signed off by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Ape, in the face of territorial disputes with China and North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
Spending on fighter jets and submarines are partly behind the increase of 1.4% to 5.13Tn yen (£35.2Bn; $43.6Bn).
A separate coastguard budget will be raised sharply.
The plans are part of a 97.5Tn yen budget for the financial year starting 1 April 2017, which will need to be approved by Japan’s parliament.
If the budget is approved, it will be the fifth consecutive rise in the defence budget.
The country’s economy is receiving pressure from a rising social security bill to fund the cost of services for an aging population, and the extra defence and coastguard spending will add to Japan’s debt.
Rising tension with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea has led to Japan’s coastguard budget being raised to 210Bn yen ($1.8Bn) next year – up from 187.7Bn yen.
Among the spending plans are five new large patrol ships and 200 more maritime law enforcement staff.
The country’s ballistic missile defence system will also be upgraded in response to advances in North Korea’s programme.
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Post written by: Abigail Burr
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