Geopolitical events
On July 6, 2026, the Japanese Diet enacted the "Maritime Trade Security Act," a landmark legislative package granting the Maritime Self--Defense Force authority to provide armed escorts for commercial tankers in international waters. This policy shift is a direct response to the persistent disruption of energy supply chains caused by the West Asia War. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba characterized the law as a "strategic necessity" to safeguard Japan’s industrial continuity and national economic security. The act also includes a ¥1.5 trillion ($9.3 billion) investment for the expansion of national strategic petroleum and liquefied natural gas reserves to mitigate future price shocks.