Following the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba from the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party, Sanae Takaichi was elected president of the party on Oct. 4. Takaichi is familiar to many Taiwanese due to her many visits to and support for the neighboring island nation. She is widely seen as a protege of late former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, also a staunch ally of Taiwan.
President William Lai (賴清德) congratulated Takaichi as news broke that she was elected LDP president, calling her a “loyal friend of Taiwan.”
She has continuously pushed for closer cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, and has called for including Taiwan in security discussions and even creating channels to strengthen defense cooperation between Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and eventually Europe. The consistency of Takaichi’s support is noteworthy.
In her first bid for the LDP presidency, she said that a Taiwan crisis is a direct threat to Japan’s security and that Japan could send its troops to help fend off a Chinese invasion. In her second leadership bid last year, she specifically said a blockade of Taiwan could endanger Japan’s existence, and that Japanese forces might legally pre-emptively strike Chinese territory to deter strikes on Japanese soil.
Takaichi said in April that Japan, Taiwan and other regional partners should form a “quasi-security alliance,” in a hub-and-spoke security model.
In her written response to a Hudson Institute questionnaire, Takaichi last week reiterated her long-standing support for Taiwan, emphasizing that peace and stability in the Strait are of utmost importance to Japan.
She reaffirmed zero tolerance for changes to the “status quo” through force or coercion and that she is closely monitoring Chinese military activities. She called Taiwan an “extremely important partner and a valued friend for Japan, sharing fundamental values and maintaining close economic ties and people-to-people exchanges.”
Some analysts have been more cautious about Takaichi’s potential Taiwan policy. Despite concerns about toning down support, a handwritten letter from Takaichi to Lai was delivered on Friday by Japanese lawmaker Hajime Sasaki.
The same day, the Komeito party withdrew from its coalition government with the LDP. Komeito has been long opposed to constitutional reforms around Japan’s security, especially on amending Article 9, which limits the role of Japan’s military. With the departure of the pacifist Komeito, the LDP under Takaichi could have less restraint on pushes to bolster Japan’s military capabilities. This could increase cooperation with parties such as the Democratic Party for the People, far-right populist Sanseito party, and other smaller parties such as the Japan Innovation Party.
Despite narratives depicting Takaichi as a far-right conservative, she has compromised when needed. Serving several ministerial positions, she improved Japan’s working environment. Her policies called for gender equity around pay and flexible work arrangements, and for better awareness of diverse needs.
Although officially opposed to changing the law for allowing for a female emperor and same sex marriage, she voiced support for a female emperor and spoke against discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Rath Wang is a senior policy fellow at Safe Spaces, a consulting firm based in Taipei and Washington focusing on Taiwan’s politics, media and civil society, as well as key issues influencing Taiwan’s future. He is a producer and host of political talk shows and podcasts and has worked on political campaigns and advocacies in Taiwan, Japan and the U.S.
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