Trump administration asked Japan to increase share of costs of US troops, Asahi Shimbun says

TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - The Trump administration asked Japan in early May to increase its share of costs for U.S. troops stationed there, prompting Tokyo to consider boosting facility funding by tens of billions of yen, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday, citing government sources.

The current annual average cost borne by Japan for the stationing of U.S. forces is about 211 billion yen ($1.45 billion).

The Japanese government has started considering an increase in the budget for the construction of facilities provided to U.S. forces stationed in Japan, such as barracks, family housing, administrative buildings and disaster prevention facilities, the report said.

($1 = 145.3300 yen)