Japan’s Kishida Requests Huge Defense Budget Increase

On Aug. 31, Japan’s Ministry of Defense in Tokyo asked for $53 billion for the fiscal year 2024, its largest ever budget request, up 13.4% from the initial budget in the current fiscal year, and the 12th consecutive rise. The budget request will be sent to the Finance Ministry to consider before a decision is made in late December. The government and the media insist that the Chinese threat requires this level of war mobilization.