PETALING JAYA: Police investigations into the Bloomberg report concerning alleged share ownership by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki must focus on the allegations itself and not their publication, says Nurul Izzah Anwar.
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of growing Chinese"coercion" in her first post-election speech to parliament on Friday, pledging to overhaul defence strategy , ease curbs on military exports and strengthen critical supply chains .
Takaichi's four-month tenure has been marked by a diplomatic dispute with China after she said Japan could use military force to respond to any attack on Taiwan that also threatened Japanese territory. Fresh from turning a fragile majority into a landslide victory in this month's lower house election, Takaichi outlined an agenda to counter what she sees as a mounting economic and security threat from China and its regional partners.With her ruling coalition now holding more than two-thirds of seats, she faces little political resistance. "Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since World War Two," Takaichi said, pointing to China's widening military activity and closer security ties with Russia, as well as North Korea’s growing nuclear missile capability. She said the government would revise Japan's three core security documents this year to produce a new defence strategy and would accelerate a review of military export rules to expand overseas sales and strengthen defence companies. A policy panel of Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party proposed on Friday to scrap rules that limit military exports to non-lethal equipment such as body armour, the Kyodo news agency said. Such a change could significantly widen the range of defence equipment Japanese firms can sell overseas. "China has intensified its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion in the East China Sea and South China Sea," she told lawmakers.Takaichi has hastened a military build-up launched in 2023 that will double Japan's defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of March, making it one of the world’s biggest military spenders despite its pacifist constitution. She also announced plans for a national intelligence council chaired by her to consolidate information gathered across agencies, including police and the defence ministry. Japan does not have foreign or domestic intelligence services comparable to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency or Britain's MI5. Beyond security, Takaichi proposed setting up a Japanese version of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment to screen overseas investment in sensitive sectors, and said rules governing land purchases by foreigners would be reviewed. She pledged to reduce dependence on"specific countries" by strengthening supply chains and working with allies to secure critical materials, including rare earths, around Minamitori, a remote Pacific island. Takaichi also promised to speed the restart of reactors idled since the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011. "A nation that does not take on challenges has no future," she said in concluding remarks."Politics that only seeks to protect cannot inspire hope." -- ReutersAnwar holds talks with Singapore PM Lawrence WongMotor racing-Honda battery issue adds to Aston Martin's testing woes
Sanae Takaichi Chinese Coercion Defence Strategy Military Exports Critical Supply Chains Economic Security Threat Defence Spending National Intelligence Council Foreign Investment Screening Supply Chain Strengthening
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Malaysian Citizen Detained in Japan: Family Seeks Legal Aid Amidst Conflicting ReportsA Malaysian man, Muhammad Faiq Zafran Mohd Jailani, is being held in Japan on suspicion of possessing a significant amount of money and gold. His family and a humanitarian organization are working to secure legal representation, as uncertainties surround the circumstances of his arrest. The Malaysian government is providing consular assistance, but cannot intervene in judicial proceedings.
Read more »
What We Know So Far About The Malaysian Detained In Japan As Third Charge LoomsAccording to reports, Muhammad Faiq Zafran Mohd Jailani was detained in Japan while carrying money and gold worth approximately RM500,000.
Read more »
Goodday Milk Factory Opens in Petaling Jaya: A Hub for Food, Fitness, and CommunityA former industrial site in Petaling Jaya has been transformed into the Goodday Milk Factory, a five-acre destination offering food, fitness, and community experiences. The venue features a HYROX-affiliated workout studio, a food hall, and flexible event spaces, all designed to foster healthy living and community engagement.
Read more »
Japan's Takaichi vows to break with 'fiscal austerity' to spark economic revivalThe actor publicised his ALS diagnosis in April 2025. ALS is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Read more »
At Japan zoo, abandoned baby monkey finds comfort in stuffed orangutan, charming zoo visitorsICHIKAWA (Japan), Feb 20 — At a zoo outside Tokyo, the monkey enclosure has become a must-see attraction thanks to an inseparable pair: Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, and his...
Read more »
JLKN Announces ePLKN 3.0 System for National Service Checks and MyVISA 2.0 Rollout in JapanThe National Service Training Department (JLKN) introduces the ePLKN 3.0 system for online status checks and confirms attendance. PLKN 3.0 Series 2 in 2026 will be held at Territorial Army camps. Malaysia is rolling out MyVISA 2.0 in Japan, ending face-to-face visa applications starting March 1.
Read more »