Japan is on track to achieve its target of boosting defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product in the next two years, but the real challenge -- whether to go beyond that level -- may come after Sunday's House of Councillors election.With the ruling bloc at risk of losing its upper house majority, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's already flagging political base could complicate long-term buildup plans, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's push for allies to shoulder more defense costs.Ishiba's ruling coalition no longer controls the more powerful House of Representatives. A defe…READ FULL ARTICLE
