Japan's Cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region. The draft budget for fiscal 2026, beginning April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product. “It is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era," Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country’s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.

The draft budget is up 9.4 per cent from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan's ongoing five-year programme to double its annual arms spending.

Japan's cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region. The draft budget for fiscal 2026 beginning April is…

TOKYO, Dec ‌26 : Japan's government on Friday proposed record spending for next fiscal year while curbing debt issuance, underscoring Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's challenge in boosting the economy while inflation remains above the central bank's target.Her cabinet approved a draft budget of $783 billion

Japan’s cabinet has recently approved a record-high defence budget worth $58 billion for fiscal 2026 in the midst of rising tensions with China. The draft budget for the next fiscal, which was...

Japan's cabinet on Friday approved a record 122.31 trillion yen ($783 billion) draft initial budget for fiscal 2026, reflecting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's expansionary fiscal stance to spur growth and boost defense spending, despite concerns over public finances. The general-account budget plan is a record high for the second straight…