Written by Kenji Tanaka |
Japan announced a record 8.5 trillion yen defence budget for fiscal 2027. The budget marks a decisive break from Japan post-war pacifist ceiling and comes amid mounting concern over China military build-up in the East China Sea and repeated North Korean ballistic tests. Prime Minister Ishiba said the package reflected a fundamentally changed security environment. The move drew criticism from China and a cautious welcome from South Korea.
Sources: Kyodo News, Reuters, AP, Japan Times, BBC, Nikkei Asia, NHK World