Takaichi and Japan's Path to Renewal and Stronger Alliance

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It marks a historic achievement. Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi has captured the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her victory reflects lawmakers heeding the voices of party members and reaffirming the conservative course she champions. With this outcome, both the LDP and Japan have taken their first decisive step toward renewal.

The leadership contest ultimately came down to a choice between two visions: the political legacy of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and that of Shigeru Ishiba. Takaichi, running as the standard-bearer of Abe's policies, defeated Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who sought to extend Ishiba's line. 

The result was also a reflection of the public will. Had it gone the other way, the exodus of conservative voters from the LDP would almost certainly have accelerated.

Rebuilding a Divided Party

Takaichi's first challenge will be to rebuild a party that has grown divided. That effort must begin with strong, strategic appointments. She would do well to study Shinzo Abe's approach closely, and to steer clear of Shigeru Ishiba's. Ishiba, constrained by a narrow circle of allies, elevated individuals lacking both popularity and competence, to the detriment of the national interest.

Abe, by contrast, drew from a broad network of capable people, appointing even his political rivals to key positions within the party and government. Takaichi has already pledged to "mobilize every generation and have everyone contribute," a promise that points in the right direction. 

Just as crucial will be surrounding herself with trusted figures. By relying on veteran statesman Taro Aso, who served as senior advisor to her campaign, Takaichi can further consolidate her position and ensure political stability.

Balancing Strength with Delegation

Takaichi's greatest strength and weakness is her tendency to take on too much herself. To unlock the full potential of those around her, she will need to delegate wisely. The role of a party leader and prime minister is not to shoulder every task, but to set a clear direction and rally others to pursue it. 

By entrusting responsibilities to capable allies, she can focus her energy on what matters most. That is, deepening her strategic insight and thinking, day and night, about how best to secure Japan's stability, prosperity, and defense.

A Critical First Test: Meeting President Trump

One of her first major tests will come later this month, when she is expected to meet United States President Donald Trump during his planned visit to Japan. 

Speaking to 800 Marine Corps officers in Virginia on September 30, Trump proclaimed that the US military was the greatest, boldest, and most courageous the world has ever seen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the message, declaring that the US has "the most lethal and most prepared military on the planet."

China's Expanding Military Ambitions

In reality, the US military continues to struggle in meeting the growing challenges posed by China, Russia, and North Korea. At a military parade on September 3, Chinese President Xi Jinping demonstrated how far his country has advanced its ultimate weapon — nuclear capability. 

Alongside its established triad of land-based and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, China unveiled a new air-launched ballistic missile system, a capability it had previously lacked. Together, these weapons are clearly intended to deter or block US intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

Against this backdrop, Japan must impress upon President Trump its resolve to strengthen the Japan–US alliance and to build a framework for genuine mutual defense.

China's Cyber Offensive and the New Digital Battlefield

Among the many concerns about the shifting balance of power between the US and China, perhaps the most critical lies in the cyber domain. In the September–October issue of Foreign Affairs, cybersecurity expert Anne Neuberger warned in an article titled "China Is Winning the Cyberwar" that Beijing's cyber campaign, known as Salt Typhoon, has been targeting America for at least three years, undetected and largely unopposed.

According to The New York Times, Salt Typhoon represented China's most ambitious cyberattack to date. It struck more than 80 countries, potentially compromising the personal data of nearly every American, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. 

The report attributed the operation to the Chinese Communist Party, which allegedly infiltrated US communications infrastructure. Once inside, Chinese operatives were said to have not only eavesdropped on conversations involving senior figures such as Trump but also tracked the daily movements of intelligence officials.

In her analysis, Neuberger outlined a clear pattern in China's cyber operations:

1. Infiltrate and seize control of critical US networks, including water, energy, telecommunications, and transportation systems.
2. Maintain covert access over the long term.
3. Remain dormant until ordered to act.
4. Execute attacks immediately upon command.

Losing the Cyberwar

The implications are stark. China now possesses the capability to throw American society into chaos at will, disrupting infrastructure, delaying military deployments, and paralyzing national response systems. In essence, it could seize Taiwan without ever engaging American forces directly. 

Neuberger's central argument is clear: China already dominates the digital battlefield and has secured a decisive strategic advantage over the United States.

Confronted with China's expanding industrial and military power, Washington has sought to reclaim its edge through advances in artificial intelligence (AI). Yet, as Neuberger warns, the very arena of AI-driven cyberwarfare is where the US has now completely lost its advantage. It is a sobering assessment and a call to urgency.

Japan's Path Forward

Trump's forthcoming visit to Japan comes against this tense and rapidly shifting backdrop. It is almost certain that he will press Tokyo to make a substantial increase in defense spending. Japan must therefore revisit its current national security strategy, which calls for raising defense expenditures to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027, and move swiftly toward an even more ambitious target.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confronted what he called the most destructive arms race in human history. He declared:

"Today, no one but ourselves can guarantee security. Only strong alliances, [only] strong partners. And only our own weapons."

Japan's task is not only to expand its defense budget but also to reaffirm a deeper principle: that a nation must be prepared to defend itself by its own strength. To that end, the Liberal Democratic Party must stand united and work in concert with parties such as the Democratic Party for the People, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Sanseito to advance constitutional reform and the broader renewal of Japan.

The expectation now is that Sanae Takaichi will shoulder this historic responsibility by, as she herself has vowed, "working, working, and working."

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Author: Yoshiko Sakurai

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