Members of the decrease home of Japan’s parliament applaud as Sanae Takaichi, standing, was re-elected as Prime Minister throughout a particular session in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday (February 18, 2026).
| Picture Credit score: AP
Japan’s decrease home formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as Prime Minister on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), 10 days after her historic landslide election victory.
Ms. Takaichi, 64, grew to become Japan’s first lady premier in October and received a two-thirds majority for her celebration within the snap decrease home elections on February 8.
She has pledged to bolster Japan’s defences to guard its territory and waters, doubtless additional straining relations with Beijing, and to spice up the flagging financial system.
Ms. Takaichi prompt in November that Japan may intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by power.
China, which regards the democratic island as a part of its territory and has not dominated out power to annex it, was livid.
Beijing’s high diplomat Wang Yi advised the Munich Safety Convention on Saturday (February 14) that forces in Japan have been in search of to “revive militarism”.
In a coverage speech anticipated for Friday (February 20), Ms. Takaichi will pledge to replace Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategic framework, native media reported.
“In contrast with when FOIP was first proposed, the worldwide scenario and safety setting surrounding Japan have change into considerably extra extreme,” Chief Authorities Spokesman Minoru Kihara stated on Monday (February 16).
In observe, this may doubtless imply strengthening provide chains and selling free commerce via the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that Britain joined in 2024.
Ms. Takaichi’s authorities additionally plans to cross laws to determine a Nationwide Intelligence Company and to start concrete discussions in direction of an anti-espionage regulation, the stories stated.
Falling inhabitants
Ms. Takaichi has promised too to tighten guidelines surrounding immigration, although Asia’s quantity two financial system is fighting labour shortages and a falling inhabitants.
On Friday (February 20), Ms. Takaichi will repeat her marketing campaign pledge to droop consumption tax on meals for 2 years to be able to ease inflationary pressures on households, native media stated.
This promise has exacerbated market worries about Japan’s colossal debt, with yields on long-dated authorities bonds hitting file highs final month.
Rahul Anand, the Worldwide Financial Fund chief of mission in Japan, stated on Wednesday (February 18) that debt curiosity funds would double between 2025 and 2031.
“Eradicating the consumption tax [on food] would weaken the tax income base, for the reason that consumption tax is a vital solution to elevate revenues with out creating distortions within the financial system,” Mr. Anand stated.
To ease such issues, Ms. Takaichi will on Friday (February 20) repeat her mantra of getting a “accountable, proactive” fiscal coverage and set a goal on lowering authorities debt, the stories stated.
She can even announce the creation of a cross-party “nationwide council” to debate taxation and the best way to fund ageing Japan’s ballooning social safety invoice.
However Ms. Takaichi’s first order of enterprise can be acquiring approval for Japan’s price range for the fiscal yr starting on April 1 after the method was delayed by the election.
The ruling coalition additionally desires to cross laws that may outlaw destroying the Japanese flag, in accordance with the media stories.
It desires too to speed up debate on altering the structure and on revising the imperial household’s guidelines to ease a looming succession disaster.
Ms. Takaichi and plenty of inside her Liberal Democratic Social gathering (LDP) oppose making it potential for a lady to change into emperor, however guidelines could possibly be modified to “undertake” new male members.
Ms. Takaichi was because of give a information convention afterward Wednesday (February 18).
Revealed – February 18, 2026 12:49 pm IST