Taiwan's scholars upbeat about Japan ties under Sanae Takaichi

Taipei, Oct. 6 (CNA) Two Taiwanese scholars have expressed optimism about future Taipei-Tokyo relations after Sanae Takaichi won the election to become president of Japan's long-time ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting the 64-year-old on track to potentially become the nation's first female prime minister.

Takaichi, a senior Diet member who most recently served as minister of state for economic security from 2022 to 2024, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi in a LDP leadership runoff on Friday.

Japan's parliament, the National Diet, is expected to confirm her as prime minister on Oct. 15. If confirmed, Takaichi would be the country's first female prime minister, as well as the first from Nara Prefecture.

Asked on Friday to comment on Takaichi's victory and how it could affect Japan's ties with Taiwan, two scholars specializing in Japanese affairs both expressed optimism the prospects, noting that Takaichi is considered "Taiwan-friendly" and aligns with the policy direction of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Both Yang Chun-chih (楊鈞池), a professor in the Department of Government and Law at National University of Kaohsiung, and Li Shui-hui (李世暉), chair of the Program in Japan Studies at the College of International Affairs, National Chengchi University, told CNA that Takaichi's victory in the LDP leadership came as somewhat of a surprise, given that she is a conservative politician in Japan's male-dominated political landscape.

Regarding Taipei-Tokyo ties under the likely incoming Japanese prime minister, Li said he was "relatively optimistic."

"Based on Takaichi's past words and actions, she is considered a strong supporter of Taiwan," Li added.

Li said that, compared with current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who apparently does not view Japan-Taiwan relations as a priority, Takaichi is believed to place greater emphasis on Tokyo-Taipei ties in her decision-making.

He suggested that Taiwan's government be prepared for some "substantial breakthroughs" between the two sides and draft a list of issues it wishes to discuss more closely with the new Japanese cabinet once Takaichi takes office.

Yang, meanwhile, said that none of the prime ministers succeeding Abe were considered "Taiwan-friendly," but that he expected this to change under Takaichi.

Once Takaichi is confirmed as Japan's new prime minister, relations between Taiwan and Japan could see more "active and positive" developments, similar to those during the Abe administration, he said.

On the diplomatic front, Takaichi is also expected to follow Abe's strategy in focusing on the Japan-U.S. alliance and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Yang added.

Takaichi won her party's presidency on her third attempt after losses in 2021 and 2024.

During her most recent visit to Taiwan in April, she met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), and the two agreed to maintain close communication, including sharing security-related information.

In a Taipei seminar on April 28, Takaichi called on Japan, Taiwan and other regional democratic partners to form a "quasi-security alliance" given the unpredictability of the United States.

Aside from defense cooperation, Takaichi also called on Japan and Taiwan to jointly bolster mutual economic security, including by building strategic partnerships in the semiconductor supply chain area and in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.