August 13, 2026
Japan Is Emerging as a Regional Security Power Broker
This article was originally published in The Business Times.
Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper, released on Aug 4, argues that Japan must strengthen its “comprehensive national power” and collaborate more closely with like-minded partners in the face of a deteriorating security environment. The paper is remarkable for linking Japan’s defence renaissance to economic revitalisation – Tokyo is clearly banking on the economic “ripple effects” of this investment, not least innovation in dual-use technologies.
While Japan’s re-emergence as a security partner in the Indo-Pacific may not be welcomed by its geopolitical antagonists, Tokyo’s multilateral approach to preserving the status quo is essential.
Since her landslide victory in October 2025, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has worked relentlessly to transform the nation’s military capabilities and diplomatic posture. Zigzagging across the Indo-Pacific, Takaichi and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi have sought to deepen partnerships with like-minded partners in the realms of defence and to strengthen economic cooperation.
Read the full article in The Business Times.
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