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The Latest: Japan says it already pays enough for US troops

An American visitor walks past a cartoon of a Mexican wrapped in a taco sticking his tongue out at a depiction of President-elect Donald Trump, in an exhibition titled; "Trump: A wall of caricatures," at the Caricature Museum in downtown Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. The exhibition, which features dozens of works by Mexican and international cartoonists, mocks amongst other things Trump's derogatory statements about Mexicans and his plans to build a wall between the two countries.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) An American visitor walks past a cartoon of a Mexican wrapped in a taco sticking his tongue out at a depiction of President-elect Donald Trump, in an exhibition titled; "Trump: A wall of caricatures," at the Caricature Museum in downtown Mexico City, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. The exhibition, which features dozens of works by Mexican and international cartoonists, mocks amongst other things Trump's derogatory statements about Mexicans and his plans to build a wall between the two countries.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

By Associated Press November 11, 2016 1 min read

TOKYO (AP) – The latest on world reaction to the U.S. presidential election (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

Japan’s defense minister says his country already pays enough for U.S. troops based there, a response to repeated demands by President-elect Donald Trump that countries hosting American forces should pay more.

Trump’s remarks during the election campaign have raised concern in Japan about a possibility his administration may seek Japan’s increased spending for American forces.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada stressed that the presence of U.S. troops in Japan serves as a key deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region and they should stay.

Japan pays about 200 billion yen ($1.9 billion) a year in so-called host-nation support for 50,000 U.S. troops.

Inada said Friday: “I believe it’s enough. We pay what we are supposed to cover.”