Tokyo, Nov. 6 -- Japan is considering increasing overall defence spending by broadening the scope of what counts as "related" expenditures to include space projects and infrastructure initiatives undertaken by government agencies beyond the Defence Ministry, sources familiar with the matter told Kyodo News.

The move aims to demonstrate Tokyo's determination to boost defence outlays amid China's military assertiveness and other regional security challenges, while the US administration hopes its Asian ally will shoulder more of the regional security burden, Kyodo News reported.

Ahead of her first in-person summit with US President Donald Trump late last month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to accelerate the country's goal of raisi...