


Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Sanae Takaichi as its new president. With the LDP dominating Japanese politics in the post-World War II era, Takaichi will likely become Japan’s next prime minister. While the LDP has had strong prime ministers in the recent past, like Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, its last three prime ministers (Ishiba, Kishida, and Suga) have failed to rule for at least three years.
Her political hero is Margaret Thatcher, and she has been called the Iron Lady herself.
Takaichi likes heavy metal music, and in her youth played drums and was a “biker chick” who rode a motorcycle. Her political hero is Margaret Thatcher, and she has been called the Iron Lady herself. Joining the LDP in 1995, Takaichi held leadership roles including the minister-in-charge of Okinawa and northern territories affairs, minister for internal affairs and communications, and economic security minister.
What sort of foreign policy can we expect from Takaichi if elected prime minister?
Takaichi will likely pursue a hawkish tone towards China. She supports revising Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, which currently prohibits the country from participating in armed conflicts. Reports also indicate that she opposes Chinese intellectual property theft and seeks to make Japan more economically independent from China. (RELATED: Japan’s MAGA Moment)
Additionally, Takaichi’s recent comments supporting strengthening regional alliances can be seen in the context of striving to contain China’s threat. She has stated that “first of all, it is vital to reaffirm the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” but she also indicated support for greater cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and South Korea; Japan, the U.S., and Australia; and Japan, the U.S., and the Philippines.
Additionally, she made an ambiguous statement which can be interpreted as supporting increased defense and diplomacy funds to counter China: “With Japan’s security environment becoming increasingly severe, we must hold thorough discussions within the party as we move towards drafting next year’s budget. To protect Japan’s peace, diplomacy is truly essential, and I am determined to devote my full efforts to it.”
Takaichi will also likely strengthen Japan-Taiwan ties. She, like her mentor Abe, believes that Taiwan’s security is integral to Japan’s security; she even adopted Abe’s phrase that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency.” (RELATED: China Ratchets Up Espionage War Against Taiwan)
When Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te congratulated her on becoming LDP president, he called her a “steadfast ally of Taiwan,” and expressed hope that together, “Taiwan and Japan can deepen their partnership in areas such as economic trade, security, and technological cooperation.”
To her credit, Takaichi has pushed for a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan. She also met with President Lai in April, explicitly advocating for greater non-governmental, people-to-people, and technological cooperation between the two countries. But also during that meeting, Takaichi and Lai agreed to share “defense-related information,” indicating that the two desire a stronger relationship between their countries. (RELATED: China’s Threat to Taiwan: Intentions and Capabilities)
In 2021, Takaichi held talks with then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, discussing “expanding and deepening security and practical exchanges” between the two countries, as well as the two countries joining together in a regional trade agreement.
Takaichi will likely take a hard-line stance on immigration to Japan, as she supports the deportation of those who fraudulently claim asylum for economic reasons, and advocates that those who overstay their visas legally should be “strictly required to obey the law.”
As the frontrunner to be Japan’s next prime minister, Takaichi will be a strong asset to the United States with her pro-Taiwan stance and hawkish approach to China.
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