Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has inaugurated a panel tasked with reviewing her country's security and defense policies as tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia escalate in the region. The move is part of a push by Takaichi, who took office in October, to accelerate Japan's military buildup as a deterrent against regional threats.
Defense Strategy Prioritization
Takaichi argues that Japan needs to prioritize its defense strategy to further strengthen its military capability to better protect itself and survive prolonged, new forms of warfare. Last week, her Cabinet scrapped restrictions on Japanese lethal weapons exports, a move welcomed by the United States and other defense partners but criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense-only principle.
Changing International Order
“The international situation has completely changed,” Takaichi told a meeting at her office. “The relatively stable post-Cold War international order has become a thing of the past.” She emphasized that Japan needs to “learn the lesson” from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in the Middle East, adapting to new forms of warfare including drones, and be prepared for a long-term conflict. “As the world enters an era of turbulence and Japan faces many challenges, the upcoming revision ... is a crucial effort that affects Japan's fate,” she said.
Panel Composition and Goals
The 15-member panel of experts in diplomacy, defense, and economy will review security and defense policies in light of possible emergency scenarios, and also examine the defense budget and funding before compiling recommendations for changes in the coming months. According to existing policies adopted in December 2022, Japan aims to double its defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product—about 43 trillion yen ($270 billion)—through 2027. Takaichi’s government has already reached that spending target, and the panel is expected to discuss possible further increases in military spending.
