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Japan’s lower house on Wednesday formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as prime minister, 10 days after her party secured a two-thirds majority in snap elections held on February 8.
Takaichi, 64, became Japan’s first woman prime minister in October. Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led coalition strengthened its mandate in the recent vote.
She has pledged to bolster Japan’s defence capabilities and strengthen economic performance. In November, Takaichi suggested Japan could intervene militarily if China attempted to take Taiwan by force, a comment that drew criticism from Beijing.
At the Munich Security Conference last week, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said forces in Japan were seeking to “revive militarism.”
In a policy speech expected on Friday, Takaichi is set to outline plans to update Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy.
Chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara said earlier this week that the security environment surrounding Japan has become “significantly more severe.”
“Compared with when FOIP was first proposed, the international situation and security environment surrounding Japan have become significantly more severe,” Kihara said.
Local media reported that the government plans to strengthen supply chains, promote free trade through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and introduce legislation to establish a National Intelligence Agency and discuss an anti-espionage law.
Domestically, Takaichi has pledged to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years to ease inflation.
The proposal has raised concerns about Japan’s fiscal outlook, with long-term government bond yields reaching record highs last month.
Rahul Anand, the International Monetary Fund’s chief of mission in Japan, said debt interest payments are projected to double between 2025 and 2031.
Anand noted that “removing the consumption tax (on food) would weaken the tax revenue base, since the consumption tax is an important way to raise revenues without creating distortions in the economy.”
Takaichi is also expected to announce the formation of a cross-party council to discuss taxation and funding for Japan’s expanding social security costs amid a declining population.
Her immediate priority is securing approval of the national budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1, following election-related delays.
The ruling coalition also plans to advance legislation banning the destruction of the Japanese flag and accelerate debate on constitutional revision and changes to imperial succession rules.
Takaichi is scheduled to hold a news conference later on Wednesday.
