Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi must steer Japan between pressure from China and an unpredictable United States by bolstering defense, diversifying partnerships and asserting strategic autonomy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/27/japan/keeping-china-us-wolf-at-bay/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #us #china #usjapanrelations #chinajapanrelations #indopacific #shinzoabe