Japan Lower House passes record US$793b budget

Tokyo

JAPAN'S powerful Lower House of Parliament on Friday passed a record US$793 billion budget, including fresh economy-boosting stimulus and more defence spending as Tokyo eyes an increasingly assertive China.

The government plans to spend 96.34 trillion yen (S$1.1 trillion) for the fiscal year to March 2016 under the budget which will now be sent to the Upper House for final approval. Passage is expected within several weeks despite possible opposition moves to stall the bill.