Japan's Defence Ministry is seeking a record-high budget of nearly 5.5 trillion yen ($55 billion) for fiscal 2021. The move is to fund more purchases of costly American stealth fighters and expand its capability to counter possible threats in both cyber and outer space.<br />'' <br />''The budget request made public today is the first under new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. It would be an eight per cent increase from the current year, signalling a continuation of his predecessor Shinzo Abe's security policy. Japan's defence spending has risen for eight consecutive years since 2013, a year after Mr Abe took office.<br />'' <br />''The rise in spending came as Mr Abe pushed for Japan's Self-Defence Force to expand its international role and capability amid threats from North Korea and China.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Japan also faced demands from US President Donald Trump that US allies increase defense spending, which Japan did in part with costly American weapons purchases that also bolster weapons compatibility with American forces.</span><br />