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Japan’s Takaichi targets Chinese ‘coercion’ in first parliament speech after landslide win
Japan facing ‘most severe and complex’ security scenario since World War II, prime minister says
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi highlighted what she called Chinese “coercion” as she delivered her first parliamentary speech since her party’s landslide victory about two weeks ago, while also calling for continued communication with Beijing.
Analysts say this indicates Tokyo will prioritise its ties with Washington but also attempt to maintain pragmatic engagement with Beijing as a strategic hedge.
Takaichi said on Friday that Beijing’s growing “coercion” was driving the island nation to be “strong and prosperous” and that “Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since World War II”.
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“China is intensifying its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, while also expanding and stepping up its military activities in the areas surrounding our country,” she said.
Analysts said Takaichi was walking a fine line to ensure she had the support of US President Donald Trump ahead of her visit to Washington next month.
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Tokyo understood Trump’s expectation that Japan had to shoulder greater responsibility in countering China in the region, they said. On the other hand, Takaichi had tried to hedge her stance by calling for mutually beneficial relations with Beijing, according to one observer.
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