Japan’s Defense Ministry requested a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion) for fiscal 2025 on Friday, aiming to enhance remote island security by deploying unmanned vehicles amid China’s growing military assertiveness. The request surpasses the record 7.9 trillion yen initial budget for fiscal 2024 ending next March, and aligns with the country’s five-year, 43 trillion yen defense buildup plan through fiscal 2027 crafted in response to the rapidly changing security environment. Unmanned systems, including aerial and underwater vehicles, are considered innovative game-changers that ca…