Takaichi highlights priorities in her first policy speech

Japan’s new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae delivered her first policy speech at the Diet on Friday afternoon, saying she will make tackling rising prices her top priority while also strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.

She said the government will begin reviewing three national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, with the goal of revising them by the end of next year. She added that the government will move up its plan to raise defense spending and related expenditures to 2 percent of GDP from the original target of fiscal 2027.