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The Straits Times (20 February 2026)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of growing Chinese “coercion” in her first post-election speech to Parliament on Feb 20, and pledged to overhaul defence strategy, ease curbs on military exports and strengthen critical supply chains.

Ms Takaichi’s four-month tenure has been marked by a diplomatic dispute with China, after she said Japan could deploy military force to counter any attack on Taiwan that also threatened Japanese territory.

After turning a fragile majority into a landslide victory in February’s Lower House election, Ms Takaichi outlined an agenda aimed at countering what she sees as a growing economic and security threat from China and its regional partners.

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