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Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has outlined plans to strengthen defence capability as a key priority for the allied nation.
The new leader of Japan was elected prime minister during a Parliament session in Tokyo last week, aligned with the release of the government’s basic plan the same day.
The new government has already voiced intentions to build a strong economy, restore Japan’s diplomacy on the world stage and fully mobilise its resources to advance national strategy.
“In order to defend Japan’s national interests, the cabinet will restore Japanese diplomacy that flourishes on the world’s centre stage. We will work to consolidate and leverage in all respects Japan’s comprehensive strength as a nation, including its diplomatic capacity, defence capabilities, economic standing, technological expertise and information competence, in order to advance Japan’s peace and security, prosperity, and coexistence and mutual prosperity with the rest of the international community,” according to a government statement.
“We will broaden our multilateral coordination in diplomatic, defence, economic and other realms with like-minded countries and countries in the Global South, consistent with the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, taking the Japan–US Alliance as the cornerstone.
“The cabinet will work to reinforce Japan’s intelligence functions and also make every effort to realise the swift repatriation of all victims of abduction by North Korea.
“We will undertake the fundamental reinforcement of the nation’s defence capabilities in accordance with Japan’s sovereign discretion.”
The Japanese government is also expected to embrace “responsible and proactive public finances”, work to raise incomes, transform people’s mindsets regarding consumption and boost tax revenues.
Key challenges for government includes tackling rising prices, strengthening economic security, firmly establishing food security as well as security in energy and resources, enhancing national resilience, fortifying cyber security, building health and medical care security, and fostering an environment that fully utilises human resources.
The Japanese government has also highlighted the need to support growth of areas outside major urban centres or regional industrial clusters by building up local industries and maintaining local public transportation.
In addition, the government has announced it will enhance policy coordinating functions on foreign nationals in Japan and promote relevant and broad-ranging measures.
