Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech during the graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy of Japan on March 14, 2026 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Photo: VCG

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hyped Japan's security environment again over the weekend, claiming Japan faces the most "severe and complex" security environment since the end of World War II and blaming neighboring countries, alleging enhancing cooperation between China, Russia, and North Korea, according to multiple Japanese media reports.  

The remarks were made ahead of Takaichi's scheduled first visit to the US since taking office. A Chinese expert said Takaichi is seeking US support to relax military constraints and break away from the post-war system.  

Delivering an address at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense Academy of Japan, Takaichi on Saturday claimed that the government will work to fundamentally enhance defense capabilities "without excluding any option," referring to the ongoing revision of three key national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, which is expected to be completed within the year, the Sankei Shimbun reported.

NHK reported Sunday that the prime minister is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on March 19, and she plans to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-US alliance. Agenda also includes economic security and investment in the US.

When referring to the continued deterioration of China-Japan relations caused by Takaichi's erroneous remarks regarding Taiwan question, Takaichi plans to "clarify Japan's stance to Trump, seek his understanding, and also hope to US-China deals bypassing Japan. Japan and the US will also hold consultations on the Taiwan question, seeking to keep the attention of the US focused on the East Asian region. 

The Nikkei report also said that whether Washington would mention the topic of Japan's military budget is noteworthy. Japanese government has realized the goal of 2 percent of GDP in 2025, two years ahead of previously planned. The US had demand ally countries to raise military budget to 5 percent of GDP. 

Lü Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told Global Times on Sunday that the core purpose of Takaichi's visit to the US is to consolidate the US-Japan alliance, secure multifaceted support from the US, and pave the way for Japan to loosen military constraints, hedge diplomatic risks, and strengthen economic ties, while avoiding marginalization in the strategic competition between China and the US. 

During this visit, Takaichi seeks not only to demonstrate Japan's loyalty to the US and highlight its irreplaceable role in the Indo-Pacific strategy, but also attempts to hype up the "China threat" rhetoric to restrain possible US policy shift toward China, Lü noted.

Lü believes that Japan's moves to excessively expand military spending and loosen restrictions on arms exports could also trigger a regional arms race, further undermining the security balance in the Asia-Pacific.