Japanese Prime Minister Not Afraid to Take On Beijing
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during a press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2026. Franck Robichon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during a press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2026. Franck Robichon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

Japanese Prime Minister Not Afraid to Take On Beijing

Buoyed by recent electoral wins, Takaichi is moving the country to a defensive posture against China.
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News Analysis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emerged from a snap election on Feb. 8 with a mandate rare in postwar politics: a two-thirds supermajority in the more powerful lower house.

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