The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has now compiled policy proposals regarding the National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), suggesting the need to increase Japan’s defense budget to 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Meanwhile, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera held a press conference on June 8, during which he presented a negative view about the LDP proposal. “I wouldn’t say there should be a framework, and instead we should basically accumulate what is needed,” said Onodera. He added, “It is inappropriate to mechanically link the defense budget to GDP.”