Japan’s Takaichi targets Chinese ‘coercion’ in first parliament speech after landslide win
Analysts say Japanese leader is walking a fine line to ensure Trump’s support ahead of US visit while also hedging her stance on 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”.
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.