Japan in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
Japan in May 2026 was defined by a continuing dispute with China over defence policy. Beijing said Japan was pursuing what it called new militarism, pointing to the renaming of Self-Defense Forces ranks, and China and Russia criticised Japanese rearmament, which the Cabinet rejected on May 21, reaffirming Japan's postwar pacifist path. Japan-China relations stayed frozen six months after remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Reports said Xi Jinping criticised Takaichi over Japan's defence policy at his summit with Donald Trump in Beijing, and that Trump defended her. On May 31, at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Defense Minister Koizumi rejected the accusation and pointed to China's own military buildup, while a Chinese delegate demanded an apology from Japan to its Asian victims.
Japan widened its security and energy ties with other countries. Takaichi held a two-day summit in Seoul from May 19, where Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation on energy and supply chains; the two also held their first vice-ministerial security meeting. Japan and Indonesia signed a defence cooperation agreement on May 4. During Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos's visit to Tokyo on May 27, the two countries raised their relations to a new level and moved toward a military intelligence pact, and talks on a maritime boundary drew a statement from China's foreign ministry calling them illegal. Japan also announced a new security arrangement with Australia and agreed with the EU on protecting maritime routes. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Tokyo, and Trump called Takaichi to brief her on his meeting with Xi. Japan sought oil through the Strait of Hormuz and said Russia would not oppose Japan importing Russian oil.
At home, a Kyodo poll put the Cabinet's approval at 61 percent, with concerns centered on the effect of naphtha shortages. The government prepared an extra budget, and Takaichi's proposal to cut the sales tax met resistance from cash register makers. Bribery cases drew attention, including a Kumamoto city councilor arrested over 60 million yen and a bribery scandal at Japan Post. In Osaka, a city council panel approved a plan for a new metropolitan government.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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