(26 Dec 2025) ASSOCIATED PRESS Beijing, China - 26 December 2025 Duration: 4 mins 10 seconds Spokesperson: Lin Jian 1. According to reports, the Japanese cabinet on Friday approved a defense budget plan for fiscal year 2026 totaling more than 9 trillion yen (about 58 billion U.S. dollars). If the plan is approved by the Japanese parliament early next year, Japan’s defense budget will once again reach a record high. The budget plan aims to strengthen counterstrike capabilities and coastal