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Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***ChinaOn Oct. 27, Japan held snap elections for its Lower House, which have brought about a more uncertain era in Japanese politics and some potential openings for China. For the last decade, the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito have adjusted Japan’s approach to security by taking a harder line on China. But having lost their Lower House majority, they or the Constitutional Democratic Party will have to form an unwieldy coalition of multiple parties. The result is that Japanese leaders may be more divided on China policy and will have a more difficult time passing additional security legislation.China has been concerned about Japan’s decades-long shift toward a more “proactive” approach to security under the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership. Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his successors increased Japan’s defense spending, confronted China more openly in the diplomatic arena, and tightened ties with the United States. But Tokyo has also had frequent leadership changes in the past, which have hampered its security posture adjustments. The lack of political stability in Tokyo is therefore likely to be seen as an opportunity for Beijing, particularly since it may impede the passage of security-related legislation that would increase defense spending.It remains unclear what a weakened Liberal Democratic Party would do, or what the opposition might do in its stead, but a more toned-down approach to China is certainly possible. Many Japanese businesses still see China as a critical market for revenue growth and a major manufacturing hub. Beijing will likely seek to leverage these ties in order to soften Japan’s approach to China. Many of the security concepts put forward by the United States