Lai congratulates Takaichi on becoming 1st female Japanese PM

Taipei, Oct. 21 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday congratulated the new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sanae Takaichi on her election as Japan's 104th prime minister, according to Lai's spokeswoman.

Presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said that Taipei-Tokyo's friendly relationship is expected to continue to deepen under the leadership of Takaichi, who is considered to be a Taiwan-friendly politician.

Earlier Tuesday in an extraordinary National Diet session, Takaichi secured majority votes from both the Lower and Upper Houses of parliament, to become Japan's first female prime minister.

The 64-year-old senior Diet member who previously served as minister of state for economic security from 2022 to 2024, defeated Shinjiro Koizumi in an LDP leadership runoff on Oct. 4.

According to Kuo, Taiwan and Japan are "trusted partners" sharing similar democratic values, and Prime Minister Takaichi is also known as a staunch supporter of Taiwan.

The president is looking forward to seeing both countries continue to enhance bilateral cooperation in economic and trade, technological, disaster prevention, and security, she added.

Kuo also said that Taiwan and Japan have always helped each other out in times of need. Only last week, the Japanese government donated a water level observation buoy to Taiwan to aid flood prevention in Hualien, she said.

The donation was made after a barrier lake in the eastern Taiwan county of Hualien overflowed due to typhoon late last month, killing 19 people with five still missing.

Kuo added Lai is also grateful to former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for he has repeatedly underscored the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait via joint statements during his tenure.

The spokesperson said that President Lai expressed confidence that the ties of friendship between Taiwan and Japan will continue growing deeper, so that both countries could contribute to regional peace, prosperity, and stability.

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

Following Takaichi's victory in LDP leadership contest earlier this month, two Taiwanese scholars told CNA that they were optimistic about future Taipei-Tokyo relations under Takaichi's premiership.

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, both told CNA that Takaichi is considered "Taiwan-friendly" and aligns with the policy direction of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

● Taiwan's scholars upbeat about Japan ties under Sanae Takaichi

Li, meanwhile, said he was "relatively optimistic" and suggested that Taiwan's government be prepared for some "substantial breakthroughs" between the two sides.

Taipei should draft a list of issues it wishes to discuss more closely with the new Japanese cabinet once Takaichi takes office, Li added.

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.