Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Japan Steps Up Security Role
00:00:55 – Beijing Attempts to Intimidate Japan
00:09:06 – Tokyo Expands Regional Network
00:17:47 – What Does Japan’s Coalition Mean for Taiwan?
#IndoPacific #JapanDefense #JapanCoalition #TaiwanCoalition #Taiwan #Japan #Beijing #Tokyo #IndoPacificSecurity #TaiwanStrait #JapanForeignPolicy #EastAsiaSecurity #Geopolitics #AsiaPacific #RegionalDefense #IndoPacificAlliance #JapanMilitary #USJapanAlliance #TaiwanDefense #BeijingThreat #GeopoliticalStrategy #MaritimeSecurity #EastChinaSea #ChinaJapan #SouthChinaSea #RegionalStability #DefenseCooperation #MilitaryAlliance #TaiwanSecurity #IndoPacificGeopolitics #CollectiveDefense #SecurityPartnership #JapanSelfDefenseForce #EastAsiaPolitics #CrossStraitRelations #InternationalRelations #Diplomacy #DefenseNetwork #BeijingIntimidation #JapanCoalition #StrategicPartnership #SecurityAlliances #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence #AsiaSecurity #JapanTaiwanRelations #DefenseStrategy #RegionalSecurity #IndoPacificStrategy #AsianPolitics #ForeignPolicy #DefensePolicy #RegionalAlliances #MilitaryDefense #PacificSecurity #GlobalAffairs #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
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
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Japan Steps Up Security Role
00:00:55 – Beijing Attempts to Intimidate Japan
00:09:06 – Tokyo Expands Regional Network
00:17:47 – What Does Japan’s Coalition Mean for Taiwan?
#IndoPacific #JapanDefense #JapanCoalition #TaiwanCoalition #Taiwan #Japan #Beijing #Tokyo #IndoPacificSecurity #TaiwanStrait #JapanForeignPolicy #EastAsiaSecurity #Geopolitics #AsiaPacific #RegionalDefense #IndoPacificAlliance #JapanMilitary #USJapanAlliance #TaiwanDefense #BeijingThreat #GeopoliticalStrategy #MaritimeSecurity #EastChinaSea #ChinaJapan #SouthChinaSea #RegionalStability #DefenseCooperation #MilitaryAlliance #TaiwanSecurity #IndoPacificGeopolitics #CollectiveDefense #SecurityPartnership #JapanSelfDefenseForce #EastAsiaPolitics #CrossStraitRelations #InternationalRelations #Diplomacy #DefenseNetwork #BeijingIntimidation #JapanCoalition #StrategicPartnership #SecurityAlliances #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence #AsiaSecurity #JapanTaiwanRelations #DefenseStrategy #RegionalSecurity #IndoPacificStrategy #AsianPolitics #ForeignPolicy #DefensePolicy #RegionalAlliances #MilitaryDefense #PacificSecurity #GlobalAffairs #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
