The Japanese Cabinet has approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget plan for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles and starts deploying Tomahawks to further fortify the country against growing threat from China,

The Japanese government is expected to approve a record initial budget Friday for the next fiscal year that will ramp up spending on defense and support for regional economies.

By Makiko Yamazaki TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet on Friday approved a record $730 billion budget for the next fiscal year, while limiting new bond issuance to the lowest in 17 years on the back of record tax revenue.