Elbridge A. Colby, nominee for the US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, says Japan should raise its defense spending to at least 3 percent of its GDP.



Colby attended a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.



He said he thinks the United States is still the world's strongest country but added China is the "biggest, most powerful rival" the US has faced in probably 150 years.



Regarding Japan's defense spending, he said the country is an incredibly wealthy economy, and that he doesn't understand why it is not spending at levels commensurate with the threats it is facing.



In written responses to questions from senators, Colby said Japan should be spending at least 3 percent of GDP on defense as soon as possible.



Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru said at an Upper House budget committee meeting on Wednesday that Japan decides on its defense spending.



He said the government earmarks budgets when necessary, and they are not decided based on comments from the United States or other countries.



Ishiba said defense spending is decided with a variety of expenditures, and that he has no intention of starting rough discussions about the percentage of GDP spending.



Japan has said it aims at increasing its defense spending and related expenditures to 2 percent of GDP in fiscal 2027 in response to changes in its security environment.