Japan military seeks record spending hike

Defense budget has risen for seven consecutive years under PM Abe

TOKYO - Japan's Defense Ministry is seeking to more than double spending on missile defense, including purchases of costly arsenals from the United States.

The record-high 5.3 trillion yen ($47 billion) request for the 2019 fiscal year, which was approved on Friday by the ministry, is up 2.1 percent from last year. Japan's military spending has risen for seven consecutive years under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.