Japan's Strategic Pivot: PM Sanae Takaichi's Bold Stance on China

• Japan's leadership, under PM Sanae Takaichi, is shifting from cautious diplomacy to a more public and firm stance on China, leveraging her popularity.
• The country is layering strategic signaling onto its soft power, openly discussing defense expansion and regional deterrence, as noted by Pratnashree Basu.
• Public opinion, once a constraint, now enables national security debates, with rising threat perceptions from maritime incursions and North Korean missile launches.
• Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan Strait contingency as 'survival-threatening' triggered a diplomatic backlash from China, signaling a tougher approach.
• Japan's approach demonstrates how domestic political capital and public mandate can be strategic resources for foreign policy, relevant for India and Southeast Asia.