Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formally launched a Cabinet-level panel that she will personally chair to develop a new security strategy that covers both national defense and economic security. The scheduled update of the current five-year security plan is being brought forward by two years, given the nature of the increasing threats.
A think tank under the Ministry of Defense gave this effort additional impetus. The National Institute for Defense Studies last week issued its annual China Security Report (2026), explicitly warning for the first time that a growing strategic bloc among China, Russia and North Korea may significantly impact Japan’s security and pose the risk of a “three-front contingency.”
While attention will focus on the increase in defense funding, the new weapon systems to be acquired, the investment in the Japanese defense industrial base and the capabilities deployed in space and the cyber realm, much of the diplomatic work will be dedicated to solidifying and expanding the effectiveness of a growing list of alliances and partnerships.
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