Japan's Defense Ministry eyes record $51.6bn in spending under Suga

More funds seen as needed to protect against cyberattacks and missiles

The Defense Ministry plans to deploy new fighter jets in 2035 to replace its current F-2s. (Photo courtesy of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force)

JUNNOSUKE KOBARA and RIEKO MIKI, Nikkei staff writers

September 21, 2020 05:29 JST

TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Defense will request a record 5.4 trillion yen ($51.6 billion) in the fiscal 2021 budget, seeking a ninth straight year of increases as China rises and new technological threats emerge.

The tally, which also covers Japanese contributions to the U.S. military presence, has topped records every year since fiscal 2015 under now-former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.