Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s high-stakes visit to Washington — originally meant to reinforce the US–Japan alliance and refocus attention on Indo-Pacific security — was instead overshadowed by the US-Israeli war with Iran, a global energy crisis and an eyebrow-raising comment by US President Donald Trump about Pearl Harbor. Earlier in the week, Tokyo signed a joint declaration with the UK and several EU countries expressing support for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical passageway for 20 percent of the world’s oil. However, Japan’s pacifist Constitution and domestic opposition put major constraints on any potential military role. Meanwhile, a US intelligence report described Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan as “a significant shift,” seemingly siding with Beijing's interpretation and putting Tokyo on the defensive. How will Takaichi and her government navigate this “very difficult” political terrain? In this episode, we examine Japan’s diplomatic challenge, shifting US alliance dynamics and what it means for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.
*Recorded on March 20, 2026 at 10:30am Taiwan Standard Time
Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat
Consultant: Max Yu
Research Assistant: April Lin
Our guests:
Ota Fumio
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Vice Admiral (Ret.)
Patrick Cronin
- Hudson Institute Asia-Pacific Security Chair
Michael Chen
- Democratic Progressive Party International Affairs Director
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