Briefly

JAPAN

Higher military budget triggers concerns

Japan's Defense Ministry submitted on Friday a defense budget request of 8.54 trillion yen ($58 billion) for fiscal year 2025, marking the first time the country's defense budget request has surpassed the 8-trillion-yen mark. The proposed expansion of Japan's military capabilities has raised widespread concerns. Japan's push to develop the capability to strike enemy bases marks a departure from its postwar pacifist constitution, which adheres to an "exclusively defense-oriented policy", Tokyo Shimbun commented. Such a shift is seen as potentially sparking an arms race in the region, which could destabilize the regional security landscape, it added.