Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that her administration plans to strengthen multilateral conversations with India and nations including South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia, while promoting a "free and open Indo-Pacific" region amid China's growing military presence, media reports indicated.
Describing the partnership with the US as the "foundation" of Japan's foreign policy and security framework, Takaichi also stressed that China remains a "significant neighbor" with whom Japan must cultivate "positive and stable" relations and develop a "strategic and mutually advantageous" partnership.
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During her inaugural policy address to the Japanese Parliament, known as the Diet, following her election as Prime Minister, she committed to increasing the nation's defense expenditure to 2 percent of GDP by March, accelerating the timeline by two years from the existing goal of fiscal 2027.
Furthermore, she promised to implement a robust fiscal strategy, as reported by Japan's official news agency. The 64-year-old leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, who became the nation's first female Prime Minister, highlighted her government's resolve to address escalating living expenses as their "primary concern."
Takaichi announced that her government would update the nation's three fundamental security documents by the conclusion of next year -- the National Defence Strategy (NDS), Defence Buildup Program (DBP), and National Security Strategy (NSS), which establishes the 2 percent GDP spending objective.
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These updates are anticipated to facilitate even greater defense expenditures in response to what Takaichi described as "substantial transformations" in modern warfare.
To combat inflation, Takaichi stated her intention to eliminate the temporary gasoline tax rate, which has existed since 1974, during the current Diet session ending December 17, and increase the tax-free income limit from the present 1.03 million yen ($6,700) to 1.60 million yen within this year.
The administration plans to create a framework combining income tax reductions and direct monetary assistance for families, abandoning a previous unpopular proposal to distribute 20,000 yen to each individual, she announced.
"We need to proactively promote the fundamental strengthening of our nation's defence capabilities" to deal with "various changes in the security environment" since the three policy papers were drawn up in late 2022," Takaichi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sanae Takaichi on becoming Japan's first female Prime Minister. He emphasized that the strengthening relationship between India and Japan plays a vital role in maintaining peace, stability, and economic growth throughout the Indo-Pacific region and other areas.
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PM Modi said in a post on X, "Heartiest congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your election as the Prime Minister of Japan. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Our deepening ties are vital for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.