Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga with US President Joe Biden in the Rose Garden of the White House. Photo: AP
Can Japan afford Suga’s military spending promise to Biden?
- Prior to Suga’s trip to the US, Tokyo had already approved a record US$51 billion defence budget to buy stealth fighters, missile systems and warships
- Any further spending will be difficult in a stalling, Covid-hit economy, analysts say, even though the public is wary of China’s growing clout
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga with US President Joe Biden in the Rose Garden of the White House. Photo: AP