00:00Assuming Takaichi Sani does become the next prime minister, would she prioritize defense, the economy, or societal problems that Japan is facing?
00:08I think Takaichi's first priority is going to be shoring up her own position in the party, in parliament, and making sure that her coalition can stay together.
00:17She's spoken about fiscal stimulus. She's spoken about increasing Japan's presence in the world, increasing its military partnerships.
00:25She's also very known for having a socially conservative stance, but how she prioritizes this, in what order she pursues this agenda, remains to be seen.
00:34And how ambitious she can be is going to depend on how much she can shore up her own position in the party, in parliament, and nationally.
00:43What do you think her victory means for Japan's ties with Taiwan?
00:46She has met with Taiwan's leaders. She has visited Taiwan. She has hosted Taiwanese foreign minister within Japan.
00:54And she's talked about a quasi-security alliance between Japan, Taiwan, India, and Australia.
01:00This perhaps has an increased impetus, as the U.S. seems more and more like an unreliable partner under the current U.S. administration.
01:09So she may look set to pursue this. However, as Japan also recalibrates its relationship with China, and as the U.S. does so as well,
01:18the scope with which she can pursue that kind of agreement remains to be seen.
01:22What about Japan's ties with other neighbors like China and South Korea, and obviously with the U.S.?
01:29She's known for taking a more hawkish stance on China.
01:32She's known for wanting to build up Japan's military, to revise its constitution, like her predecessor and mentor, in a way, former Prime Minister Abe.
01:40She's also spoken about a need to deepen security relationships with South Korea, in addition to Taiwan.
01:47That said, again, Japan and China's economic and trade ties are extremely important to both countries.
01:54And so, again, how she pursues this kind of security arrangement will remain to be seen.
01:59It's also possible that her hawkish stances on China have been calibrated to raise her profile in the party and nationally.
02:06So, again, the distinction between what she says on campaign trails and in her past service as a minister
02:12and how she'll actually pursue things as Prime Minister is a question mark for all of Japan and for Taiwan as well.
02:19So, again, I'll see you next time.
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