Anti-War Protests Rock Japan as PM Pushes for Stronger Defence
Large anti-war protests have spread across Japan in response to the government's plan to expand defence spending. According to the BBC, the prime minister is defending the higher military budget as necessary for regional security.
Large protests against an expansion of defence spending have spread across Japan, according to the BBC. Demonstrators in Tokyo and other major cities argued that the government's new security strategy conflicts with the spirit of the country's pacifist constitution.
Responding to the demonstrations, the prime minister cited rising regional risks and said modernising the armed forces is now necessary. The plan includes an expansion of long-range missile capacity, additional air defence systems, and an upgrade of civil defence infrastructure across the country.
Opposition parties warned that the proposed increase in defence outlays could push the tax burden higher in coming years. Defence stocks on the Tokyo exchange rose on the news, and the parliamentary security committee is expected to begin formal debate on the new proposal later this week, BBC reports.
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