Beijing urges Tokyo to uphold political basis of ties, spur strategic relationship

Sanae Takaichi, who was elected Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct 21 by both houses of the nation’s parliament, is expected to bring new life to its scandal-hit politics and a struggling economy with a fresh cabinet lineup.

Takaichi, president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), garnered 237 votes against Yoshihiko Noda, head of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, who won 149 votes in the first round of the lower house election.

To win this election, Japanese law requires at least 233 votes in the first round in the 465-seat lower house of the Diet. If no candidate receives the required votes, the one with the higher number of votes in the runoff election between the top two candidates from the first round will win.

The House of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet, also held its vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the first round. Takaichi led with 123 votes, followed by Noda with 44. An unprecedented runoff for the upper chamber, the first in 13 years, was triggered between Takaichi and Noda, with Takaichi ultimately winning the race, Xinhua News Agency reported.

By winning in both chambers, Takaichi was officially named Japan’s 104th prime minister.

Responding to a related question on Oct 21 at a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China noted the result of the vote and considered it Japan’s internal affair.

Guo said Beijing hopes that Japan will work with China to uphold the political foundation of bilateral ties and fully advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

In Takaichi’s new cabinet lineup, aimed at strengthening party unity and maintaining policy stability, Minoru Kihara will serve as chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi will become internal affairs minister, Shinjiro Koizumi will take the post of defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi will return as foreign minister.

Takaichi, 64, an ultraconservative politician, was elected president of the ruling LDP on Oct 4, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba. He stepped down midway through his term to take responsibility for the party’s two consecutive losses in national elections.

The defeats left the LDP in the minority in both the lower and upper houses. Ishiba and his cabinet collectively resigned on the morning of Oct 21 to clear the way for the election.

Takaichi will now lead a minority government with a new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. The JIP’s 35 votes in the lower house contributed significantly to her success after the LDP ended its 26-year coalition with Komeito this month.

Hiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo, said the LDP has kept a “certain distance” from the JIP, unlike its full-fledged coalition with Komeito.

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito also celebrated “the birth of Japan’s first female prime minister”, saying that his party will now monitor the government and engage in constructive debate from the opposition.

Shiratori also noted that the cabinet features a “Trump-experience” lineup, with former tariff negotiators Ryosei Akazawa and Motegi, who have experience negotiating with United States President Donald Trump, joining the cabinet.

With conservative Kihara as chief cabinet secretary, the government is expected to pursue a more conservative policy agenda, he added.

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, congratulated Takaichi and expressed hopes for bold measures to tackle Japan’s economic stagnation.

Tomoko Tamura, head of the Japanese Communist Party, criticized the new administration for “shelving key policies”. She said on social media that there is no doubt a head-on confrontation will occur, because “this new administration has the potential to become the worst among postwar LDP administrations”.

The current extraordinary Diet session is expected to last 58 days until Dec 17. The LDP had proposed to the opposition parties that Takaichi should deliver her policy address on Oct 24, The Japan News reported.

Contact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn