Japanese government approves record military budget

Reuters reported that on January 14, the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a record military budget of $42 billion, an increase for the third year in a row to counter China's growing military power.

The draft budget for the fiscal year starting this April includes a 2.8 percent increase in defense spending to 4.98 trillion yen for the purchase of aircraft, naval vessels and combat vehicles to protect waters bordering China, where Tokyo has a dispute with Beijing over the sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Japanese military forces. (Source: AP)

On January 11, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani emphasized: "The situation surrounding Japan is changing. This defense spending level reflects the budget needed to protect Japan's airspace, seas and territory, as well as protect the lives and property of the people."

Prime Minister Abe has reversed a decade of military spending cuts in a bid to bolster the standing of Japan's pacifist government.

However, these increases by Prime Minister Abe's administration are still modest compared to the double-digit increases that China has for defense spending./.

According to VNA