TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi inaugurated a panel in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, to review the country's security and defense policies. The launch is part of a push by Takaichi to accelerate Japan's military buildup as a deterrent against regional threats.

The panel has 15 members with expertise in diplomacy, defense and economy. It will review security and defense policies in light of possible emergency scenarios and examine the defense budget and funding before compiling recommendations for changes in the coming months. The panel is also expected to discuss possible further increases in military spending.

"The international situation has completely changed. The relatively stable post-Cold War international order has become a thing of the past," Takaichi said. She said Japan needs to prioritize its defense strategy to strengthen its military capability to protect itself and survive prolonged, new forms of warfare.

Takaichi, who took office as prime minister in October, launched the review as China, North Korea and Russia have been ramping up their military footprints in the region. Existing policies adopted in December 2022 aim to double Japan's defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027, amounting to about 43 trillion yen (270 billion dollars). Her government has already reached that 2% of GDP target.

The week before the panel's inauguration, the Cabinet scrapped restrictions on Japanese exports of lethal weapons. The United States welcomed the move as a step to deepen military and industry cooperation. China criticized the change for deviating from Japan's postwar self-defense only principle.