Japan aims to boost defense capabilities 'drastically'

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan plans to strengthen defense capabilities "drastically" against China and North Korea's military developments, the Japanese defense minister said Monday.

According to Kyodo News, Nobuo Kishi said the Defense Ministry will request a larger budget in the next fiscal year -- through March 2024 -- "to deal with China's intensifying military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and North Korea's renewed missile and nuclear threats."

The defense budget of the country was $44 billion for current fiscal year.

Recalling Germany's decision for increasing the defense expenditures to 2% of its GDP, Kishi said Japan must think of a similar move.