TOKYO: Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed on Friday (Oct 24) to bring United States ties to “new heights” with President Donald Trump, while taking a swipe at China and vowing a stricter stance on immigration in her first policy speech.
Japan’s first woman premier, who so far is enjoying high poll ratings, also told a rowdy parliament that 2 per cent of gross domestic product will be spent on defence this fiscal year, hitting the government’s target two years early.
The comments came three days before Trump, who wants Tokyo and other allies to boost their military spending, is due to visit Japan on his way to crunch talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Takaichi, whose idol is Margaret Thatcher, said she would build “a relationship of trust” during Trump’s visit, “elevating the Japan-US relationship to new heights”.
Known before her appointment as a China hawk, Takaichi also said that the military activities of China, North Korea and Russia “have become a grave concern”.
“The free, open and stable international order we have grown accustomed to is being profoundly shaken by historic shifts in the balance of power and intensifying geopolitical competition,” she said.
China’s foreign ministry reacted by hitting out at Japan, increasing its defence budget and relaxing restrictions on arms exports.
“These moves inevitably raise serious doubts among (Japan’s) Asian neighbours and the international community about whether Japan is truly committed to an exclusively defensive posture and the path of peaceful development,” said spokesman Guo Jiakun.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/japan-pm-sanae-takaichi-us-relations-donald-trump-5422681
