FOCUS: PM Takaichi aims to push proactive defense policy with election win

TOKYO - The Liberal Democratic Party seeks to accelerate Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's drive to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities by scoring a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, hoping to crush those that think the country is going too fast in that direction.

How each party intends to protect Japan from growing threats posed by China and North Korea has been one of the key topics for the election, at a time when the United States is telling other countries to spend more on their own defense.