In Tokyo, newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered her inaugural policy speech on Friday, where she committed to expediting the nation’s military enhancement and expenditure. This move comes in response to escalating tensions with neighboring countries China, North Korea, and Russia. Takaichi’s address marks a significant shift in Japan’s defense strategy, aiming for a quicker adaptation to current global security challenges.
Assuming office on Tuesday, Takaichi made history as Japan’s first female prime minister. Her election concludes a period of political instability characterized by internal party conflicts and a series of electoral defeats that resulted in the ruling coalition losing its majority in both legislative chambers.
In her speech, Takaichi announced an ambitious goal to achieve an annual military spending equivalent to 2% of Japan’s gross domestic product by March, accelerating the timeline from the original 2027 target. Additionally, she plans to expedite the revision of Japan’s security strategy, with an updated version expected by the end of 2026. This is a departure from the previous practice of revising the strategy roughly every decade, with the last update occurring in December 2022.
The urgency to refine Japan’s security strategy stems from recent global developments, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Takaichi emphasized the shifting international order, stating, “The free, open, and stable international order that we were accustomed to is violently shaken due to historic changes in power balance and intensifying geopolitical competitions.”
Highlighting concerns over military activities from regional neighbors, Takaichi noted, “In the region around Japan, military activities and other actions from our neighbors China, North Korea, and Russia are causing grave concerns.” She asserted the necessity for Japan to take a proactive stance in strengthening its defense capabilities, underscoring the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its security in a tumultuous geopolitical landscape.
“Japan needs to proactively push for its fundamental buildup of its defense power,” she said.
Her pledge Friday comes days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s Oct. 27-29 visit to Tokyo for a summit, where she is expected to face tough demands from Trump, such as a further increase in Japan’s defense spending and more purchases of costly American weapons. Her meeting with Trump is part of a major diplomatic test that also includes two regional summits.
Takaichi said she plans to discuss with Trump further strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance while fostering the two sides’ personal relationship based on trust.
She noted that Japan needs to establish a constructive and stable relationship with China, but that there are “security concerns” between the two sides.
Her hawkish politics and views of wartime history, as well as her past regular visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which Asian victims of Japan’s colonial-era atrocities view as a lack of remorse, could undermine Tokyo’s relations with Beijing, experts say.
The upgrading of the security strategy may involve more offensive military roles for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, further easing of restrictions on arms exports and increased military spending, but she did not elaborate on how she plans to fund them.
To achieve any of her pledges or policies, her minority government needs cooperation from the opposition.
Her immediate task at home is to tackle rising prices and sagging wages, and win back support from conservatives.
Her Liberal Democratic Party’s new ruling alliance with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, which replaces an earlier coalition with the dovish centrist Komeito, has raised concerns about Japan’s further shift to the right.
Takaichi said Japan needs foreign workers to make up for the shortage of labor in the country, which has a rapidly aging and declining population, but only by allowing those who follow the rules.
“It is a fact that unlawful activity and violation of rules by some foreigners are causing the sense of unease and unfairness among Japanese people,” Takaichi said. “The government will respond decisively to these activities. It’s not xenophobia.”
Takaichi assigned Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda to step up regulations on foreigners in Japan to “enforce compliance” and study possible regulations on land purchases by foreigners, many of them Chinese.
The move caters to some of the frustrated Japanese who are inspired by the “Japanese First” platform by the far-right Sanseito party. The populist surge comes as Japan, a traditionally insular nation that values conformity and uniformity, sees a record surge of foreigners needed to bolster its shrinking workforce.
Government statistics show crime rates among foreigners in Japan have fallen while their population has surged.
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