Japan Increases Its Defense Budget For The Fifth Year In A Row

Wall Street Journal: Japan to Increase Military Spending for Fifth Year in a Row

‘Security environment surrounding Japan is becoming ever more severe,’ defense minister says

TOKYO—Japan’s cabinet on Thursday approved an increase in military spending for a fifth successive year—including funds for missile defense upgrades and new advanced submarines—to meet accelerating threats from North Korea and China.

The pressure on Japan has risen to increase military spending over the past few years as China has made territorial challenges to Japanese-administered islands and North Korea has stepped up missile- and nuclear-weapons development. Four North Korean missiles landed close to the northern coast of Japan this year.

“The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming ever more severe,” Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said in a press briefing this week.

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More News On Japan Increasing Its Defense Budget

Japan in record military spending amid Chinese tensions -- BBC
Japan Approves Record Defense Spending Amid China Tensions -- Bloomberg
Japan sets record defense budget with eyes on China, N Korea -- CNN
Japan Coast Guard to spend 27% of budget on boosting Senkaku surveillance in 2017 -- Japan Times
Japan boosts coast guard fleet to defend disputed East China Sea islands -- The Guardian/AP
Japan considers record military spending in 2017 in response to growing threats -- UPI
Japan Just Approved a Record $43.6 Billion Military Budget to Counter China and North Korea -- TIME
Japan Approves Record $43.6 Billion Defense Budget Amid Rising Regional Tensions -- International Business Times