Japanese PM vows defense expansion while hyping ‘Chinese threat’

Sanae Takaichi said in her first post-election address to parliament that Japan plans to revise its defense-only military policy, citing what she described as growing pressure from China. While calling China an important neighbor and supporting stable relations, she said Japan must update its security strategy and speed up changes to military export rules to strengthen its defense industry.

Takaichi said her government will revise three key security documents first introduced under Shinzo Abe and later approved during the administration of Fumio Kishida. The policies include raising defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027 and allowing “counterstrike capabilities,” meaning Japan could possess long-range weapons while maintaining its officially defensive posture.

Her ruling Liberal Democratic Party is also considering loosening current arms export limits to allow sales of lethal weapons abroad. Takaichi’s recent remarks on regional security issues have drawn criticism from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned at the Munich Security Conference that Japan’s actions show a potentially dangerous trend toward remilitarization.

Credit : CGTN