East Asia military spending rises most in 15 years, report shows

Japan's expenditure up 21%; Southeast Asia marks biggest rise since 2015

Live firing takes place as part of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Fuji Firepower Exercise at the foot of Mount Fuji, Japan, in May 2023. © Kyodo

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April 28, 2025 08:34 JST

TOKYO -- Military spending in East Asia jumped 7.8% on the year to $433 billion in 2024, a new report shows, as countries continued to enhance war-fighting capabilities amid heightening tensions in the region.

The annual increase was the largest since 2009, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). East Asia accounted for 69% of the $629 billion spent across Asia and Oceania as a whole.