Reuters:
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s government approved a record defense budget on Friday that has expanded by almost 12 percent over seven years as Tokyo tries to counter growing Chinese military might in the East China Sea and guard against the threat posed by North Korean ballistic missiles.
The budget for the year starting April 1 will rise 1.4 percent to 5.26 trillion yen ($48 billion). The budget request requires approval by parliament, where it has a majority.
The biggest outlay is an initial 176 billion yen payment on two U.S.-built, ground-based Aegis Ashore air defense radars that can track and target ballistic missiles in space. Japan will also spend 68 billion yen to buy six F-35 fighters.
