Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reaffirmed her commitment to building “stable” relations with China.
Tokyo, Japan | February 20, 2026 | The Global Journal
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reaffirmed her commitment to building “stable” relations with China. In her maiden policy speech delivered in parliament on Friday, she emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue with Beijing and maintaining a “calm and appropriate” diplomatic stance to safeguard national interests.
Describing China as “an important neighboring country,” the 64-year-old leader said her government would keep communication channels open and work to maintain stable bilateral ties. The same message was reflected in an official government statement.
Following her recent reelection, this marked her first policy address as Japan’s 105th prime minister. In the snap elections held on February 8, her party, the Liberal Democratic Party, secured a landslide victory and formed the government.
In her speech, Takaichi called for an early end to the Russia-Ukraine war and said Tokyo would continue supporting Kyiv in coordination with “like-minded countries.” Referring to relations with Moscow as being in a “difficult situation,” she stated that Japan’s policy of resolving territorial disputes and concluding a peace treaty remains unchanged.
Strengthening ‘Proactive Fiscal Policy’
Known for her hawkish stance, Takaichi renewed her pledge to pursue “responsible and proactive” fiscal policies aimed at accelerating economic growth. She said her cabinet would put an end to the long-standing trend of excessive austerity and insufficient future investment.
She also announced plans to fast-track discussions on measures to ease the public’s financial burden, including reducing the consumption tax on food and beverage products.
On national defense, Takaichi said Japan would revise its three key security documents this year in response to rapidly evolving security challenges. She also called for deeper public debate on revising Japan’s pacifist constitution.
She further stated that the US-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and security policy. Indicating a possible visit to the United States as early as next month, Takaichi said she aims to further strengthen trust with President Donald Trump and enhance bilateral cooperation across security, economic, and cultural sectors.
