Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office after becoming Japan’s first female prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)
Next week Trump is set to travel to Asia for meetings in Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
JAPAN POISED FOR FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER AFTER RULING PARTY ELECTS SANAE TAKAICHI AS NEW LEADER
The meetings come as U.S.-China relations have turned frigid, with Beijing cutting off exports of key critical minerals and the U.S. cutting off tariff negotiations.
Takaichi, who as a young woman spent time interning in the U.S. Congress, has expressed concern about Japan’s reliance on the U.S., but signaled intentions to work closely with Trump. She took office on a recent populist wave in Japan similar to the MAGA movement.
The U.S. has spooked some Japanese officials with Trump’s suggestion that Japan should pay for U.S. troops in the region. Around 60,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Japan, making it the largest foreign host of U.S. forces.
A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stands guard next to a surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile interceptor launcher, a U.S.-made weapon. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Adding to those concerns, a trade framework in July placed a 15% tariff on imported Japanese goods, with higher rates for steel, aluminum and auto parts.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Takaichi has taken a hawkish approach to China and declared "Japan is back," while promising to more strictly regulate immigration and tourism and suggesting Japan’s textbooks should revise how they teach World War II to reflect a more nationalistic view.
The shift marks a dramatic moment for Japan’s postwar defense policy, which has traditionally emphasized restraint under its pacifist constitution. A push toward rearmament under Takaichi would cement a broader regional trend toward military expansion, as China, South Korea and Taiwan all race to modernize their forces amid growing instability in the Indo-Pacific.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/japan-plans-tell-trump-build-up-its-military-after-years-1-defense-spending