Kishida appeals for higher taxes to bolster Japan's defense

Prime minister rules out bond issuance to accommodate larger budget

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media following the end of the Diet's 69-day extraordinary session on Dec. 10. (photo by Hirofumi Yamamoto)

MITSURE OBE, Nikkei staff writer

December 10, 2022 21:00 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a plea for higher taxes to strengthen the nation's defenses at a news conference on Saturday, saying Japan faces greater uncertainty over its security, given rising geopolitical tensions in Asia.