Japan has designated 14 airports and 26 seaports for use by its military and coast guard during a contingency.

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces significant foreign policy challenges just days after taking office

TOKYO: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (Oct 29) the Japan-US alliance was "critical to deterring Chinese military aggression", as his Japanese counterpart confirmed plans to accelerate a defence spending target.

Announced on October 28 in Tokyo, the agreement commits both governments to securing mineral flows and accelerating the deployment of advanced nuclear power.

Long-pacifist Japan is adopting a more muscular military stance as relations with China worsen, with Takaichi pledging to spend 2% of GDP on defense.

The Chinese government sent the new Japanese prime minister a congratulatory message when she assumed office -- without announcing the act. The move suggests cautiousness from Beijing over how Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will manage relations with Japan's neighbor.

On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered her first policy address, which contained remarks on China that aligned closely with information disclosed by Japanese media the previous day.