Japan military seeks record budget amid regional threats

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Defense Ministry is seeking a record-high budget of nearly 5.5 trillion yen ($55 billion) for fiscal 2021 to fund more purchases of costly American stealth fighters and expand its capability to counter possible threats in both cyber and outer space.

The budget request made public Wednesday is the first under new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and would be an 8% increase from the current year, signaling a continuation of his hawkish predecessor Shinzo Abe's security policy. Japan’s defense spending has risen for eight consecutive years since 2013, a year after Abe took office.

The rise in spending came as Abe pushed for Japan’s Self-Defense Force to expand its international role and capability amid threats from North Korea and China, both traditional and nontraditional. Japan also faced demands from President Donald Trump that U.S. allies increase defense spending, which Japan did in part with costly American weapons purchases that also bolster weapons compatibility with American forces.

Purchases for missile deterrence are among the most costly items in the proposed 2021 budget and include Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35B stealth fighters capable of short takeoff and vertical landing for 26 billion yen ($246 million). Japan has plans to acquire 42 F-35Bs in coming years.

To accommodate the F-35Bs, the Defense Ministry is seeking 3.2 billion yen ($30 million) to reconfigure one of its two helicopter carriers, Kaga, with a heat-resistant flight deck. The other flat-top Izumo has also been configured.

The ministry is also seeking 58.7 billion yen ($556 million) for the research into developing next generation fighter jets to replace F-2s retiring in the 2030s. Japan plans to develop its own engine, but is also considering co-developing some other parts with the U.S. and Britain.

Japan’s...