Japan cabinet approves biggest defense budget

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet on Thursday approved Japan's biggest annual defense budget in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and a territorial row with China.


The Cabinet approved 5.13 trillion yen ($43.6 billion) in defense spending for the fiscal year starting in April, up 1.4 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year.

It marks the fifth straight annual increase and reflects the hawkish Abe's attempt to build up Japan's military, which since World War II has been constitutionally limited to self defense.
 [i24news.tv/AFP]
22/12/16
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• Japan plans record defense spending in response to North Korea, Chinese incursions