TOKYO: Japan's lower house formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as prime minister on Wednesday (Feb 18), 10 days after her historic landslide election victory. Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that forces in Japan were seeking to "revive militarism". In a policy speech expected for Friday, Takaichi will pledge to update Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategic framework, local media reported. "Removing the consumption tax (on food) would weaken the tax revenue base, since the consumption tax is an important way to raise revenues without creating distortions in the economy," Anand said.

Source: The Star February 18, 2026 10:04 UTC