New Japan PM To Advance Defence Spending Target: Reports

Source: International Business Times

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Sanae Takaichi stands up to acknowledge the applause after she was selected as Japan's new prime minister AFP Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to achieve the target of spending two percent of GDP on defence two years early, media reports said days before a visit by US President Donald Trump. Long-pacifist Japan has moved towards a more muscular defence policy but with an eye on China, Washington -- which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan -- wants it to do more. Tokyo's previous target was to be spending two percent of gross domestic product in the 2027-28 fiscal year.