Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba responds to reporters at his office in Tokyo on Oct. 7. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to establish a timeline for tax hikes to secure funding for Japan’s enhanced defense capabilities.

“We must not make irresponsible claims like, ‘We don’t know where the funding will come from,’” Ishiba said on a Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) program aired on Oct. 15.

In December 2022, the previous administration led by Fumio Kishida approved a 1.5-fold increase in defense spending to 43 trillion yen ($288 billion) over five years, beginning in fiscal 2023.

To help fund this, the government plans to raise more than 1 trillion yen through increases in the corporate tax, income tax and tobacco tax.

However, it has postponed a decision on when the unpopular policy would begin.

Ishiba was asked if his Liberal Democratic Party would decide on a start date for the tax hikes during tax reform discussions scheduled for later this year.

“We must resolve this matter,” he said. “It is only natural to consider that those who have the ability to bear the burden, including corporations, should contribute.”

The tax reform outline approved at the end of 2022 indicated the government would implement tax hikes over several years leading up to fiscal 2027.

However, it did not specify an exact start date, merely stating that it would be “an appropriate time in 2024 or later.”

Related News