Since taking office earlier this year, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has accelerated Japan’s rightward drift, signaling a shift toward a more assertive defense posture. Instead of retracting past remarks, she’s doubled down on policies that expand military deployments in the southwest and push for the creation of a national intelligence agency.
Critics warn that Takaichi’s far-right agenda risks heightening tensions across the Asia-Pacific. Regional powers from the Chinese mainland to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are watching closely, while business and tech communities worry about the impact on supply chains and security. Digital nomads planning to explore Japan’s remote islands may also face new travel restrictions as security zones expand.
Thought leaders urge a balance between national defense and social priorities. They caution that diverting resources toward militarization could sideline critical issues like climate action and human rights. As Japan charts this new course, stakeholders across economies and cultures are bracing for a destabilized regional environment—and debating whether diplomatic engagement can restore equilibrium.
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Japan's rightward shift stirring up trouble in the Asia-Pacific
cgtn.com
