Japanese Prime Minister Not Afraid to Take On BeijingJapanese 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 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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