By Prakash Panneerselvam
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reshaping Japan’s foreign policy with a bold, assertive style rarely seen in Tokyo’s postwar politics. As the protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi draws on her mentor’s vision but pushes even further in diplomacy and defence. In a short time, she has shown she is not a troublemaker but a troubleshooter, resolving disputes, taking principled stands, and actively positioning Japan at the centre of Indo-Pacific security. Her brand of politics, combining Abe’s strategic foresight with her own assertive flair, marks a crucial moment for Japan on the world stage.
Takaichi’s rise to power has already broken new ground. She is Japan’s first female prime minister and a longtime conservative who admires Margaret Thatcher. Like Abe, she champions a strong Japan on the global stage, but Takaichi is even more unabashed in pursuing that goal. Upon taking office in October, she ended the Liberal Democratic Party’s 26-year alliance with the cautious Komeito party and forged a new ruling coalition with the hawkish Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). This realignment freed her hand to advance security reforms that had long stalled under the influence of more pacifist forces. While Takaichi learned statecraft from Abe, she is determined to go further, whether that means accelerating defence upgrades or speaking plainly on delicate issues, thereby forging a new path for Japan’s leadership.
Takaichi’s proactive diplomacy was on full display in her dealings with US President Donald Trump. Early in Trump’s new term, Washington rattled allies with tariff threats and pressure for greater defence spending, giving Tokyo cause for concern. Rather than exacerbate tensions, Takaichi deftly managed the situation and turned it into an opportunity to deepen ties. She adopted Abe’s playbook of personal diplomacy, complete with a warm state welcome and even gifting Trump a golf putter used by Abe, and it paid off. Trump left Japan reassured and impressed. In fact, he told the new prime minister she could ask him for help with “anything”, a dramatic shift in tone after months of hardball rhetoric.
By offering compromises from plans to boost military capabilities to proposals for importing more American goods, she solved disputes rather than sparking them. The result was a strengthened alliance and a bilateral trade understanding that avoided a costly trade war. Takaichi’s handling of Trump demonstrated that she is a pragmatic troubleshooter willing to stand firm on Japan’s interests, yet creative in finding win-win solutions to keep the relationship on track.
Perhaps the clearest sign of Takaichi’s new brand of politics is her willingness to speak openly about the Taiwan Strait, a longstanding taboo for Japanese leaders. In November, she broke with years of precedent by hinting in Parliament that Japan could provide military support to Taiwan in a “worst-case” scenario, such as a Chinese attack on the island. This pointed remark suggesting Japan might get involved in a Taiwan contingency pushed the line further than any of her predecessors had. Criticism at home and furious responses from Beijing soon followed, but Takaichi refused to retract her statement. She did clarify that official policy remained unchanged and that Japan would not proactively abandon its strategic ambiguity, yet the message was clear. Her stance can be seen as part of a larger evolution in Tokyo’s outlook, reflecting growing concern over China’s military ambitions and a readiness to respond if regional stability is threatened.
Takaichi’s frankness on Taiwan goes hand-in-hand with her drive to bolster Japan’s defence capabilities. With her new coalition’s support, she has accelerated what is set to be Japan’s largest military buildup since World War II. In fact, Takaichi moved up the target to double defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by two years earlier, aiming to hit that goal by the end of this fiscal year. “Japan must take the initiative in fundamentally strengthening its defence capabilities,” she declared, encapsulating her determination to build a more robust Self-Defence Force (SDF).
Takaichi is also mindful of winning public support, a Jiji poll showed that over 75 per cent of Japanese approved of her recent summit diplomacy with the US, China, and South Korea. By candidly preparing Japan for a more active role, she is strengthening the country’s defence in a manner that many now consider essential, given the increasingly unstable regional security situation.
Takaichi’s vision extends beyond US-Japan ties to a broader network of partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. From day one, she emphasised the continuity of Japan’s commitment to a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) and to the Quad alliance with the US, India, and Australia. In one of her first acts as PM, she held a heartfelt telephone summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This call sent a powerful signal about Japan’s diplomatic priorities. “Japan intends to continue to work together (with India) toward realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, including through (the) Japan-Australia-India-US (Quad),” Takaichi affirmed, highlighting shared values and strategic interests with India. She pledged to open a “new golden chapter” in the Special Strategic Partnership with India, deepening cooperation in security, economics, innovation, and people-to-people ties. Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated her and agreed on the need to further strengthen relations.
By shoring up trust with India, Australia, and the US, Takaichi is ensuring the Quad remains united and effective even as other bilateral frictions (such as recent US-India trade spats) cause turbulence.
Japan under Takaichi has positioned itself as a steadying force that keeps the Quad’s momentum. She has effectively put Japan at the centre of Indo-Pacific strategy, leveraging its close alliance with America and growing ties with regional democracies to counterbalance China’s influence. Takaichi’s role is evident not just in phone calls, but also in high-profile engagements: For example, during Trump’s visit, Takaichi joined him aboard a US aircraft carrier in Yokosuka to jointly address American and Japanese troops, underlining the unity of purpose in safeguarding peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. Such images of a Japanese leader standing shoulder to shoulder with allies would have been hard to imagine a decade ago. Takaichi, however, has embraced this role with confidence, assuring friends that Japan will lead, not follow, in regional security initiatives.
The writer is assistant professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, research fellow, Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership Programme, visiting fellow, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF)
