By Paul Kallender-Umezu
TOKYO — While Japan's newly unveiled defense budget represents the third small hike in a row after decades of low spending, experts say such spending remains insufficient to fund Tokyo's plans for "dynamic defense forces."
Japan's defense budget for fiscal 2015 is edging up 0.8 percent to ￥4.82 trillion (US $41.12 billion), according to figures by the Defense Ministry, bringing defense spending closer to 1990 levels.
While well below the 2.4 percent boost requested last August, the increase represents the third small hike in a row after a decade of decline. Japan has adopted a more assertive defense posture under the administration of the conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The MoD will receive funding for all the major purchases it has requested to begin updating its Air Force, restructure its defense posture to better protect Nansei Shoto, its southeast island chain south of Okinawa, and boost its naval fleet to strengthen its deterrence posture against China's Navy.
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