Japan is seeking to dramatically increase its military capabilities as officials fear a war in Ukraine could spark instability in East Asia, Reuters reported, citing an economic policy draft.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday, pledged to substantially increase Japan's defense budget.

The long-term economic plan, which is updated annually, does not detail the spending, but indicates for the first time that "there have been attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in East Asia, which has made regional security increasingly serious."

It does not list security threats in the region, but Japanese military planners have repeatedly expressed concern about China, with which Japan has a long-standing territorial dispute, and North Korea.