By Mark Tanos
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a commanding supermajority in Sunday’s snap election after voters rallied behind her hardline positions on China and immigration.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner surpassed the 310 seats needed for a two-thirds majority in the 465-seat lower house, according to NBC News. The victory validates her decision to call an early election just three months after taking office.
The prime minister’s tough stance on China proved critical to her appeal. Takaichi told Japanese lawmakers in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute an “existential threat” for Japan and trigger a military response, NBC News reported. No sitting Japanese prime minister had previously made such an explicit statement.
Beijing responded with fury. China reimposed a ban on Japanese seafood imports, restricted rare earth mineral exports and warned Chinese nationals against traveling to Japan. A Chinese diplomat in Osaka even posted a threat against Takaichi on social media before deleting it.
Japanese voters also showed growing concern over immigration. A November poll by the Asahi Shimbun found that 56 percent of respondents want fewer visitors and immigrants, while 66 percent back Takaichi’s tougher approach, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The far-right Sanseito party, which campaigns on a “Japanese first” platform, quadrupled its seat count in Sunday’s election.
Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister in October. Her popularity among young voters, dubbed as “Sanamania,” helped drive her coalition’s success, NBC News reported.
The victory gives Takaichi “plenty of space to make national security reforms,” Richard Samuels, a political science professor at MIT, told Newsweek. He added that Washington will likely welcome the results if U.S. interests include being “pro-Taiwan, anti-Beijing.”
Donald Trump called Takaichi “a strong, powerful, and wise Leader” in a Truth Social post Thursday. Trump announced he would host Takaichi at the White House on March 19. (RELATED: Ascent Of Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Could Be The Wake-Up Call Countries In China’s Shadow Need)
“In my visit to Japan I, and all of my Representatives, were extremely impressed with her,” Trump wrote. “It is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her, and what her highly respected Coalition is representing.”
Takaichi responded on X, thanking Trump for his support.
“I look forward to visiting the White House this spring and to continuing our work together to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance,” she wrote. “The potential of our Alliance is LIMITLESS.”
