Sanae Takaichi highlights Japan's military buildup as a driver for economic prosperity and technological innovation.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi presented a new defense white paper that frames Japan's accelerating military buildup as a primary driver for economic growth and national prosperity. The report emphasizes that investment in defense benefits the wider economy by fostering startups, funding scientific research, and utilizing commercial components in weapons production. To address the growing strategic challenge posed by China, the administration is prioritizing the development of long-range missiles and combat drones to adapt to modern warfare methods seen in Ukraine and the Middle East. The white paper identifies China's military activity as Japan's greatest strategic challenge, specifically noting the increasing frequency of Chinese warships in the Pacific and the rapid expansion of the Chinese military. The administration is also addressing the shrinking population by utilizing uncrewed weapons to compensate for a decreasing number of service members. By scrapping the lethal weapons export ban, the administration aims to strengthen the domestic defense industry and deepen ties with international defense partners.