The White House had good reason to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent electoral landslide: The Liberal Democratic Party leader won a mandate to strengthen Japan’s military and potentially assume greater responsibility for keeping the peace in Asia. That should be a reason for the US to deepen its alliance, however, not an excuse to pull back.

Japanese voters were responding to different elements of Takaichi’s campaign pitch, of course. Some viewed her as a decisive, pro-growth leader willing to cut taxes and stimulate the economy. Others may have wanted to reward her for standing up to China, which has clumsily pressured her to retract comments about the possibility of Japan getting involved in a war over Taiwan. Regardless, no voters could’ve been in doubt that she hopes to expand budgets for the Japan Self-Defense Forces, make it easier for Japanese companies to export weapons, and possibly revise the postwar constitution to further legitimize the military.

© Bloomberg