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.
The result capped a three-month period of strained Japan–China relations over Taiwan and Japan’s assertion that it had a right to respond if a conflict threatened its survival.
During a Nov. 7, 2025, lower house session, Takaichi said that a crisis involving Taiwan—such as Chinese “armed actions” including the deployment of warships—”could constitute a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially justifying a military response.
Beijing then took a series of aggressive steps: It urged Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan because of heightened tensions. It suspended Japanese seafood imports while citing inadequate water checks. A Chinese diplomat even posted a threat online to “cut off” Takaichi’s neck over her Taiwan stance….
Japanese Prime Minister Not Afraid to Take On Beijing
