Sawt Falasteen - New Japan PM to advance defence spending target: reports

Long-pacifist Japan has moved towards a more muscular defence policy but with an eye on China, Washington -- which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan -- wants it to do more.

Tokyo's previous target was to be spending two percent of gross domestic product in the 2027-28 fiscal year.

But Takaichi wants this achieved in the current tax year running to March 31, 2026, Jiji Press, Kyodo News and other media reported on Wednesday and Thursday.

Takaichi, who became Japan's first woman prime minister this week, was expected to make the announcement in her first policy speech in parliament on Friday.

She will also pledge to revise three key defence and security policy documents by the end of 2026, the report said.

Trump was due to arrive in Japan on Monday in between a Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia and an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.

The US president has also heaped pressure on other US allies to boost defence spending, including the EU and NATO members.

- China 'concerns' -

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Wednesday that Tokyo will tell Trump that it will place a "fundamental strengthening of defence capabilities as the top priority, based on the ongoing reviewing of the key security documents".

Takaichi, 64, an acolyte of former premier Shinzo Abe who had warm relations with Trump, has long been viewed as a China hawk, although she toned down her rhetoric in the recent leadership contest.

On Friday, Takaichi will say that China is "an important neighbouring country and it is necessary to build a constructive and stable relationship" with Beijing, the Asahi newspaper said.

But she will also say that "there are concerns regarding security and economic security".

"We will continue summit-level dialogue in a candid manner and pursue mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests," she will say, according to Kyodo and the Asahi.

- Economy and immigration -

Japan's fifth premier in as many years leads a minority government.

In her first remarks in office on Tuesday, she said her priority was to tackle inflation, a major source of anger among voters.

Her policy speech will advocate for "responsible and proactive fiscal policy," the reports said.

This will balance investment in economic security, food, and energy -- as well as growth areas like AI and chips -- with consideration to fiscal discipline, the reports said.

She will say that Japan needs foreign workers but that "illegal acts and deviations from the rules by some foreign nationals have resulted in the sense of anxiety and unfairness is being felt".

"While drawing a clear line from xenophobia, we will take a firm stand against such acts," she will say, according to the reports.

The populist Sanseito party, which calls immigration a "silent invasion", has been making gains in recent elections.

A new poll published Thursday by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily put support for Takaichi's cabinet at 71 percent, compared with 34 percent in September for predecessor Shigeru Ishiba.

Among surveys conducted immediately after cabinet inaugurations, this ranks as the fifth highest since 1978 when comparative surveys became available.

F.AbuZaid--SF-PST