Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said today that she wants relations between Tokyo and Washington to reach “new heights”, also calling for a “constructive and stable relationship” with China through “sincere dialogue”.

In her first speech before parliament Japan’s first female prime minister acknowledged the importance of immigration as the country faces a labor shortage, although she acknowledged the “concerns” of Japanese people.

In the diplomatic field, “the US-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone of our foreign policy and security policy,” Takaichi emphasized during her speech, which was often interrupted by the voices and applause of her supporters.

“I will personally meet with President Trump during his visit to Japan,” which begins Monday, “in order to build a relationship of trust and take US-Japan relations to new heights.”

Japan’s new leader was a close associate of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, and who had gone to great lengths to maintain cordial relations with Trump during his first term.

Stating that “the military activities” of China, North Korea and Russia are, in her opinion, cause for “serious concern”, she advocated “frank” dialogue with Beijing, Japan’s “key neighbour”, mainly over “security concerns”.

Takaichi, a longtime critic of Beijing, toned down her rhetoric during the recent election campaign for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Increased military spending

Citing “developments in the security environment” compared to three years earlier, when Japan set a target of raising its military spending to 2% of GDP under pressure from the US, Takaichi said she wants to meet that target before March, two years ahead of the original deadline.

The head of the LDP (conservative right), which does not have an absolute majority in both houses of parliament, secured her appointment as prime minister by allying with a small center-right reform party.

But even this coalition does not have an absolute majority in the lower house, and therefore Takaichi needs to work with other parties on a case-by-case basis to advance her agenda.

In anticipation of the economic support measures she is set to take, particularly to deal with Japan’s high inflation that has dented her predecessor Shigeru Ishiba’s popularity, Takaichi pledged to build a “strong economy.”

Promising a “responsible” fiscal policy, he announced strategic spending to raise incomes, stimulate consumption, increase corporate profits and tax revenues, without raising taxes.

Strictness towards foreigners

As Japan faces a shrinking and aging population, which is the second oldest in the world after that of Monaco, the country’s new prime minister admitted that “some sectors need foreign workers.”

During her election campaign, she took a tough stance on immigration and foreign tourists, whose behavior sometimes angers some Japanese.

Meanwhile, Japan’s most recent parliamentary election in July saw the rise of a small far-right party, with the slogan “Japan First,” which blamed foreigners for a range of problems facing the country, from rising property prices to a lack of street safety.

“Although we are clearly against xenophobia, the government will act decisively” in cases where the rules are not respected, Takaichi underlined.

Takaichi’s government is approved by 71% of respondents, according to a poll published Thursday by the Yomiuri newspaper, compared to 34% who said in September that they approve of the Ishiba government.

This is the fifth best figure for a new government since 1978, when records are kept.