Source: International Business Times
Tokyo is shifting its defence resources to southwestern regions such as Okinawa as tensions with China rise AFP Sporting dark face paint and clutching a gun, teenage soldier-in-training Takuma Hiyane crawls across a field on Japan's Okinawa, the front line of the nation's defence as anxiety grows over China's territorial ambitions. As the world marks the 80th anniversary of World War II, Japan -- which has been officially pacifist since its defeat -- is trying to lure more talent into its armed forces. Tokyo began upping its military spending in 2023 and aims to make it two percent of its gross domestic product by the end of the 2027 fiscal year, but has come under pressure from Washington to boost it even further.