Japan’s cabinet approved a record defence budget totalling 10.7 trillion yen, marking the country’s most significant military expansion since the Second World War as Tokyo responds to rising regional tensions.
The budget, representing 2.1 percent of GDP, funds the acquisition of long-range strike missiles, next-generation fighter aircraft and enhanced cyber warfare capabilities.
Prime Minister Kishida said the investment was essential to Japan’s deterrence posture in an increasingly uncertain regional security environment.
The announcement triggered diplomatic protests from China and South Korea, which called Japan’s military expansion destabilising.
