Japan says its security environment is becoming more dangerous, and the government is preparing major changes in response. In a key policy speech, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned about growing pressure from China and promised a wide security overhaul.
Speaking to parliament in Tokyo, Takaichi said Japan faces its “most severe and complex” security situation since World War II. She pointed to China’s expanding military activity, closer ties between China and Russia, and North Korea’s advancing nuclear missile program as major concerns.
Takaichi accused China of trying to change the status quo through force or coercion, particularly in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Her comments come after recent diplomatic tensions between Japan and China, including debate over how Japan would respond if conflict involving Taiwan threatened Japanese territory.
The prime minister said her government will revise Japan’s core security documents this year, creating a new defence strategy. Plans include expanding military exports by reviewing rules that currently limit what defence equipment Japanese companies can sell overseas. A policy panel from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has already suggested easing restrictions so firms can export a wider range of equipment.
Japan is also continuing a military build-up first launched in 2023. The country aims to raise defence spending to about 2% of its gross domestic product, a major shift for a nation long defined by its pacifist constitution.
Beyond defence, Takaichi announced the creation of a national intelligence council to improve coordination between government agencies. She also proposed a new system to screen foreign investment in sensitive sectors, similar to the U.S. review process for national security risks.
Supply chains were another focus. Takaichi said Japan must reduce reliance on specific countries by working with allies to secure critical materials, including rare earth resources near remote islands such as Minamitori Island.
Energy policy is part of the plan as well. The government intends to speed up the restart of nuclear reactors that were shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
With a strong parliamentary majority, Takaichi faces little political resistance. Analysts say the new policies signal a clear shift: Japan is preparing for a more uncertain region by strengthening defence, technology security, and economic resilience.
