Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took a leading role in discussions on securing financial resources to drastically boost defense spending, positioning the amount and the way to secure funds as non-negotiable while referring to "Japan's responsibility" to its ally, the United States, and friendly countries in Europe.
At a press conference on Friday, Kishida stressed that he wanted to present the tax hikes this year because "it is clear that the public will have to bear a burden in the future." The prime minister said he "wanted to present [the policy] in good faith and in a straightforward manner."
Two days prior to the press conference, Kishida held meetings behind the scenes with a veteran Diet member who was cautious about tax hikes.
