Takaichi has called China an "important neighbor" and faces the challenge of balancing ties with both Beijing and Washington, Japan’s top trade partners, amid tensions over Taiwan and a territorial dispute over an island group in the East China Sea.

Key Points and Summary – Nuclear attack subs like the U.S. Virginia-class bring speed, range, and deep-water agility—key in the vast Western Pacific. But stealth rules underwater, and Japan’s Soryu-class,

China commissions its third aircraft carrier Fujian, marking a major step in military modernization and power projection across the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers a conflict over Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan.

Japan criticised a Chinese diplomat on Monday for "extremely inappropriate" remarks seemingly directed at Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, after she suggested that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked neighbouring Taiwan.

Japan is seeking to create a more self-sufficient military as a deterrence against China’s increasingly assertive military activity in the region, and has concentrated on defense buildup on its southwestern islands. Japan also has concerns about the rising tensions caused by North Korea and Russia.

U.S. Navy destroyer confronts China near Scarborough Shoal as naval power shifts in Indo-Pacific. Military experts warn of growing Chinese capabilities.