Japan, China and Taiwan Under Takaichi Sanae's Premiership

TaiwanPlus News

Beijing says it wants Japan's new PM Takaichi Sanae to respect "its political commitments on major issues, including those related to history and Taiwan." But Takaichi has a history of backing Taiwan and her past remarks suggest closer Taiwan-Japan ties.

Transcript

00:00Japan's new Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae, is flanked by her cabinet for a group photo.

00:07With just two other women in the group, this might not be quite the glass ceiling moment some had expected.

00:12Still, Japan's first woman Prime Minister has arrived.

00:15She says she's ready to dive into the job.

00:18I am firmly determined to build a strong Japanese economy

00:22and to protect Japan's national interests through diplomacy and security.

00:27In her hometown Nara, it's Japan's domestic problems that are on most people's minds.

00:32And they hope Takaichi will help turn them around.

00:35Prices have gone up and it's tough.

00:39Honestly, I mostly shop at 100 yen shops now.

00:42It's hard to get by.

00:44I hope she'll pay attention to that.

00:46But she's mostly in Tokyo, right?

00:48She doesn't come to Nara much.

00:50I'd like her to support Nara much more.

00:52Support for child care and help for women.

00:56Returning to work after having children.

00:58I hope there will be more policies in those areas.

01:01But from Trump's tariffs to relations with powerful China next door,

01:06Takaichi has a lot to do on the diplomatic front, too.

01:09With neighbors like China, her nationalist politics may cause irritation.

01:15She's known to visit this controversial place, Yasukuni Shrine,

01:19where Japan's war dead are remembered.

01:21They include convicted war criminals from World War II.

01:24And she's a close friend of Taiwan, too.

01:27On a visit in April, she even met with President Lai Qingde.

01:30Beijing says her selection as prime minister is an internal Japanese affair,

01:34but urged her to hold the line on political documents Japan and China have signed,

01:39including on issues like Taiwan.

01:41In Taiwan, though, there's confidence that Takaichi will bring closer ties with Japan.

02:00In Taiwan, though, there's confidence that Takaichi will bring closer ties with Japan.

02:07We will have to support the Soviet Union and the European Union.

02:08We will be able to help promote the international international operations,

02:10and we will be able to support the international ship from the international waren.

02:11And we also hope that the Japanese government will be joining the international ship in Taiwan,

02:16and the European Union will bring closer to the international ship.

02:21Among the things Takaichi has suggested is a regional quasi-security alliance that would include Taiwan,

02:26as well as closer cooperation in tech.

02:29If Takahichi's past is any indication, informal ties with Taiwan could grow under her premiership.

02:35Howard Zhang and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.

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