Would-be ruling party leader says Japan must boost defences to counter China

Former Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida (Koji Sasahara/AP)

Japan’s former top diplomat and candidate to head its ruling party said that he supports boosting Tokyo’s defence budget amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

Ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida proposed raising defence spending, possibly above Japan’s longstanding cap of 1% of gross domestic product.