Japan Defense Ministry Seeks 212 Billion Yen Amid Island Dispute
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Japan’s Defense Ministry requested 212 billion yen ($2.4 billion) in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus package, as the country seeks to maintain control of islands also claimed by an increasingly assertive China.
Included in the request are funds for extra PAC-3 missile interceptors and upgrades for F-15 fighter planes, according to a document distributed by the ministry. Abe, who vowed to boost funding for the military and coast guard upon taking office last month, will finalize on Jan. 11 about 12 trillion yen in extra spending for the year ending in March.