(Jake Thrupp – The Strategist) Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive victory in Japan’s 8 February lower-house election will be a game-changer for the Indo-Pacific security landscape. Armed with a supermajority (holding more than two thirds) in the House of Representatives, Takaichi’s government will likely use its political strength to bolster Japan militarily and diplomatically as it continues to stare down Chinese intimidation and economic coercion. Before the election, Takaichi had already brought forward plans to double defence spending to 2 percent of GDP. This hardening of defence posture, considering China’s coercive actions in the East China Sea and beyond, will provide Japan with greater deterrence capabilities and signal to others in the region a willingness to share the security burden.
Sanae Takaichi’s victory is a win for Indo-Pacific security | The Strategist
