Roving Periscope: China warns Japan as pro-Taiwan PM Takaichi wins ‘supermajority’
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A day after her ruling party won a stunning ‘supermajority’ in snap elections to Japan’s parliament, which gives her a free hand until 2028, China on Monday warned hardliner, far-right Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that any reckless actions—on Taiwan—would be met with a “resolute response.”
Eying defence and immigration reforms, she announced her resolve to make Japan strong and prosperous.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured a two-thirds majority in a key parliamentary mid-term election on Sunday, Japanese media reported, citing preliminary results, indicating a landslide victory because of her popularity.
Beijing’s warning came amid heightened tensions between the two countries following comments made by Takaichi in November 2025, which suggested that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on self-ruled Taiwan. China claims it as part of its territory, and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the democratic island under its control.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry urged Japan to retract Takaichi’s comments and warned of consequences for any rash actions, the media reported on Monday.
“If the far-right forces in Japan misjudge the situation and act recklessly, they will inevitably face resistance from the Japanese people and a resolute response from the international community,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.
“We once again urge the Japanese side to retract the erroneous remarks made by Takaichi regarding Taiwan and demonstrate basic sincerity in safeguarding the political foundation of China–Japan relations through concrete actions,” he added.
After Takaichi’s comments, China discouraged its nationals from travelling to Japan, citing deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese citizens.
Tensions escalated further in December 2025 when Chinese military aircraft reportedly locked radar onto Japanese jets, prompting Tokyo to summon Beijing’s ambassador.
China has also reportedly restricted exports of rare-earth products to Japan, materials critical for industries ranging from electric vehicles to defence systems.
Japan’s public media outlet NHK, citing results of vote counts, said the LDP alone secured 316 seats, comfortably surpassing a 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house Diet (House of Representatives). That marks a record since the party’s foundation in 1955 and surpasses the previous record of 300 seats won in 1986 by late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
With the 36 seats won by its new ally, Japan Innovation Party, the ruling coalition won 352 seats.
Despite the lack of a majority in the upper house, Sangiin (House of Councillors), the huge jump from the preelection share in the superior lower house would allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan’s economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China and she tries to nurture stronger ties with the United States.
The PM said that she would firmly push forward her policy goals while trying to gain support from the opposition. She is hugely popular, but her LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years. She called Sunday’s early election only after three months in office, hoping to turn that around while her popularity is high.
The ultra-conservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan’s first female leader in October 2025, pledged to “work, work, work”, and her style, which is seen as both playful and tough, has resonated with younger fans who say they weren’t previously interested in politics.
The Opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist alliance and a rising far-right, was too splintered to be a real challenger. The new opposition alliance of LDP’s former coalition partner, Buddhist-backed dovish Komeito, and the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is projected to sink to half of their combined pre-election share of 167 seats.
She wants to push forward a significant shift to the right in Japan’s security, immigration and other policies. The LDP’s right-wing partner, JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, has said his party will serve as an “accelerator” for this push.
Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defence policies to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s post-Second World War pacifist principles. She also wants to increase defence spending in response to US President Donald Trump’s pressure for Japan to loosen its purse strings.
PM Modi greets
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, on her “landmark victory” in snap elections.
“Congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives,” he said in a post on X.
He said the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. “I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights,” he added.
Trump congratulates
US President Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, congratulated Takaichi. “She is a highly respected and very popular Leader. Sanae’s bold and wise decision to call for an Election paid off big time.”
Japan has recently seen far-right populists gain ground, such as the anti-globalist and surging nationalist party Sanseito. Exit polls projected a big gain for Sanseito.
The first major task for Takaichi is to work on a budget bill, delayed by the election, to fund economic measures that address rising costs and sluggish wages.
She has pledged to revise security and defence policies by December 2026 to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s postwar pacifist principles.
She has been pushing for tougher policies on foreigners, anti-espionage and other measures that resonate with a far-right audience, but ones that experts say could undermine civil rights. Takaichi also wants to increase defence spending in response to Trump’s pressure for Japan to spend more.
Despite her rightward shift, Takaichi is expected to maintain good relations with South Korea, given shared concern about threats from North Korea and China in view of what Japan did to them before and during the Second World War. Japan’s attempt to revise the country’s pacifist constitution and shift from defence to offensive policies reflecting Japan’s wartime past, are worrying for China and the two Koreas.
In her campaign speeches, Takaichi talked about government spending to fund “crisis management investment and growth,” such as measures to strengthen economic security, technology and other industries. She also seeks to push tougher measures on immigration, including stricter requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on foreign residents.
