Japan plans to raise military spending to 240 bln US dollars

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he wants to raise his military spending budget by around 6 percent over the next five years, that’s according to Kyodo news agency.

Abe’s government is requesting a defense budget of more than 240 billion US dollars. The Japanese government says it’s in response to a number of growing security concerns, including nuclear development in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

However, the Finance Ministry has previously asked the Defense Ministry to CUT its budget. The budget request will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on December the 17th. Local media reports say the government wants to make air defense a priority, and is planning to buy a guided-missile cruiser.
If the budget is approved, it will be Japan’s first increase in defense spending in over a decade.

CNTV