Pacific Power Play: Japan’s Boosts Arms and Regional Alliances To Counter China
Japan is taking on its most active security role in decades, expanding defense partnerships, easing arms exports and deepening military cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Tokyo has strengthened ties with countries including the Philippines, South Korea and Australia while launching new intelligence and defense initiatives at home. At the same time, China has responded with economic pressure, maritime coercion and diplomatic attacks, accusing Japan of "militarization" even as Beijing expands its own military presence. Is Japan emerging as a central driver of Indo-Pacific security — and how is its growing leadership reshaping the region's balance of power? In this episode, we examine Japan's evolving strategy, China's response and what it means for Taiwan and the wider Indo-Pacific. *Recorded on July 16, 2026 at 3:50pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Rath Wang Producer: Miguel Yang Videographer: Ko Gi Our guests: Tristan Liu - Taipei University of Marine Technology President Stephen Nagy - International Christian University Politics and International Studies Professor Kolas Yotaka - Keio University Global Research Institute Affiliated Researcher
