Experts Discuss Revision of Security Strategy

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi promotes revising three security documents by the end of this year. Experts of this issue have been accumulating discussion for enhancing Japan’s defense capability in the time security environment around Japan is increasingly unstable. Takaichi hopes to connect investment in defense equipment or related productions with economic growth, the policy which is criticized as new militarism by China. 

Takaichi launched in April an experts’ council to discuss the direction of revision of three security documents: National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program. Although they were renewed by former prime minister Fumio Kishida in 2022, Takaichi has been arguing that they would need to be revised, considering pressure from Donald Trump administration of the United States to accumulate defense budget. The U.S. demands Japan to increase defense budget from current 2 percent of its GDP to 3.5 percent.

 

The expert’s council deals with various issues for security. In the meeting in June, they made a free talk on the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which has been one of the most important security policies in post-war Japan, representing its uniqueness of defense policy in the world. However, Takaichi had been skeptical about the principles, especially on no introduction of nuclear weapons in Japan. One of the staffs in the Prime Minister’s Official Residence unequivocally stated in December 2025 that Japan should possess nuclear weapons.

 

One of the members of experts’ council, who were a retired officer of Japan Self-defense Force, focused on nuclear deterrence in the situation that Japan is surrounded by nuclear powers. Not only China, the President of the United States told that North Korea had at least 57 nuclear weapons. Sufferers of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki firmly opposes discussion of nuclear deterrence. A professor on security study criticized the argument as inappropriate in the council.

 

Economic security was the main issue in the meeting in early August. Takaichi insists on enhancement of “state power” of Japan. And economic security is one of her strengths in policy matters. Considering prime minister’s idea, the experts discussed that economic security must be at the center of state power. They discussed necessity of Anti-Coercion Instrument, which the European Union introduced in 2023, to counter weaponization of economy by China.

 

After Takaichi made a comment on Taiwan contingency in November 2025, which indicated Japan’s use of force around Taiwan, China embargoed dual-use equipment against Japan. Takaichi administration has simply been protesting China’s measures, instead of seeking an opportunity to find a breakthrough in this diplomatic stalemate. Frustrated with slow progress in diplomatic improvement, multi-partisan delegation of the Diet members made a visit to China with invitation of the international department of the Communist Party of China.

 

The experts’ council works for building security strategy for Takaichi administration. However, the prime minister does not have any leverage to improve diplomatic relations with China, Russia and North Korea, which surround Japan. The only thing she promotes is economic growth policy with investment of defense equipment.

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