78% urge election before tax hikes to cover Japan defense budget rise

Nearly 78 percent of respondents called for a general election if the government is to raise taxes to cover a substantial increase in Japan's defense spending, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has come under pressure, with 77.9 percent urging him to seek voter approval on the issue, as Tokyo is aiming to forge ahead with its biggest defense buildup program since World War II amid China's rise and North Korean threats. Meanwhile, 19.3 percent said they see no such need.In the telephone poll held Saturday and Sunday, the support rate for Kishida's Cabinet stood at …READ FULL ARTICLE