"Is the nipponese Iron woman pushing her country towards war with China? Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aggressively violates 1 of Beijing's most delicate red lines – Taiwan."

grazynarebeca5.blogspot.com 2 weeks ago

Written by Ladislav Zemánek, non-resident academic at the China-CEE Institute and expert at the Valdai Discuss Club

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi © Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

When Sanae Takaichi was elected president of the ruling Liberal-Democratic organization (LDP) in Japan in early October – then, in the same month, the first female to be Prime Minister in the country – the symbolism was immediate and global.
She was hailed as the Iron woman of Japan, which she is arrogant to receive.Margaret Thatcher remains 1 of her political heroes, and this kinship is not just cosmetic.It shapes its conservative agenda and, above all, its assertive approach to abroad and safety policy.Takaichi embraces the office with clear conviction: Japan must break out of the ongoing decade of economical stagnation in the country and find itself in an increasingly unstable external environment.To accomplish this, it advocates a model combining economical nationalism with strategic, tough force.In the country, it supports the stronger function of the state in key industries, expansive fiscal and monetary incentives and policies to strengthen Japan's technological and industrial competitiveness.At the same time, it cultivates a culturally conservative vision, defending conventional nipponese values, opposing progressiveism – including LGBTQ+ – and opposing liberal globalisation.Her position on immigration – powerfully restrictive – is besides consistent with her wider conservative values.However, Takaichi's success is not limited to events in the country.It develops against the background of expanding regional tensions: tightening competition between the US and China, expanding concerns about China's ambition and increasing sensitivity around Taiwan.In this increasingly polarized environment, Takaichi's worldview is resonated among Japan's right-wing electorate, but at the same time deepens strategical dividing lines across East Asia.Takaichi's political identity mostly involves her membership in Nippon Kaigi, Japan's most influential conservative and nationalist organization.Nippon Kaigi advocates the revisionist imagination of nipponese war history, the restoration of conventional household structures and, crucially, the abolition of Article 9 of the nipponese Constitution, which renounces war and prohibits the maintenance of a permanent army.Following the footsteps of erstwhile LDP leaders – including Shinzo Abe and Shigeru Ishiby – who besides shared the ideological Nippon Kaigi program.According to this program Takaichi promotes the creation of a full modernized nipponese army and an extended safety apparatus.This includes calls for the creation of the National Intelligence Agency, a long debated, but repeatedly postponed, and for the adoption of the long-awaited anti-spy law.Both initiatives aim to strengthen Japan's ability to function as a "normal" national state, with the intelligence and defence possible that can be expected from the power.Takaichi's approach is uncompromisingly hawks towards China.He sees Beijing primarily as a strategical threat, whose expanding military and maritime presence requires decisive countermeasures alternatively than diplomatic support.This position strengthens her support for strategies that are restrained and drastically restricts the space for economical pragmatism, which had previously defined much of nipponese policy towards China.

Takaichi's most crucial minute in abroad policy came in late October erstwhile she met US president Donald Trump.The gathering was highly warm – it was an early signal that Tokyo-Washington relations could enter what both leaders called a "new golden era".Together, they announced a framework for cooperation on rare-earth elements, which was a key step to reduce dependence on China's almost monopolistic position in the sector.Trump besides declared US large-scale investments in the nipponese economy, and Takaichi committed to accelerate the expansion of the nipponese defence sector, expanding military spending to at least 2% of GDP by March 2026 – earlier than planned.The United States and Japan have besides confirmed a broad regional programme: strengthening ties with South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, India and – unofficially but unequivocally – Taiwan.At this last point, geopolitical risks become acute.Although Japan's quest to strengthen its own defensive position is within the limits of the laws of any state, the increasing proximity from Taipei brings it closer to the red line of Beijing.Of all the dimensions of Takaichi's abroad policy, no 1 is as controversial as her relation with Taiwan.At the beginning of this year, she met with Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, signaling not only symbolic support but besides readiness to strengthen Taipei's global visibility.Although Takaichi met with China's president Xi Jinping in late October, any affirmative diplomatic effects were rapidly undermined erstwhile she met with Taiwan's erstwhile Deputy Prime Minister just 24 hours later.This situation was received in Beijing as a deliberate provocation.Takaichi's rhetoric has become even more provocative.On September 7, she stated that Taiwan's safety is inextricably related to Japan's security, repeating the language of Shinzo Abe.More strikingly, she suggested that the nipponese Self-defense Forces could be utilized if Beijing took military action against Taiwan.From Beijing's point of view, this turned into direct interference in his interior affairs.Beijing's reaction was quick, extremist and highly public.Officials accused Takaichi of ‘a revival of militarism’, ‘a threat to regional stability’ and of supporting ‘extremist forces’ in Japan.China called on the ambassador of Japan and issued many formal protests.Beijing referred the case to the United Nations, arguing that Japan's threat of intervention in Taiwan violates global law.The rhetoric intensified erstwhile China's Consul General in Osaka stated that Takaichi "should be cut off the dirty head", which was condemned for openly aggressive tone.However, China's reaction was not limited to words.Specific retaliatory steps have been taken: restrictions or threats to imports of nipponese seafood, warnings to travellers dissuade Chinese citizens from visiting Japan and suspension of cultural exchanges.At sea China increased the number of Coast defender patrols close the disputed islands of Senkaku/Diaoy, sending a strong signal of readiness to challenge nipponese control.Given Beijing's dominance of uncommon earths, the force of economical force remains an ubiquitous tool – a tool which China has not yet full utilized but can usage in the event of further deterioration of relations.

With the escalation of diplomatic tensions, military dynamics besides changes.Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi late went to Yonaguni – the westernmost nipponese island, located just 110 km from Taiwan – and announced that Tokyo would deploy air defence missiles there.The Chinese Ministry of Defence warned that Japan would "pay a painful price" if it crossed Beijing's red lines on Taiwan.At the same time, the United States intensified military action on Yonaguni.Washington modernizes ports and runways to support F-35B fighter operations from distant nipponese islands, which clearly aims to increase fast consequence capacity in the event of a possible Taiwan threat.These events propose that Takaichi's defence strategy is closely coordinated with Washington – possibly even utilized as leverage in Trump's negotiations with Beijing.However, fresh days brought a twist: Trump asked Takaichi not to escalate the tensions further, fearing that an expanding conflict might jeopardise his planned April journey to Beijing.This introduces a degree of uncertainty.Takaichi's alliance with Washington is strong, but not unconditional;if American and nipponese strategical priorities diverge, Tokyo may find itself in a hard situation, balancing between assertiveness and restraint.Sanae Takaichi introduced Japan into a new, uncertain phase.Her boldness resonates with a nation seeking to shake off the economical lethargy and strengthen its global position.However, it places Japan in the epicentre of the most unstable geopolitical dividing lines in Asia.Whether her word becomes a past of national revival or regional destabilization will depend on how she copes with the dangerous ground between home ambitions, China's growth and US strategical expectations.Japan has entered a decisive moment.Under the leadership of the Iron woman Takaichi, subsequent moves will specify not only the future of Japan, but besides the balance of power in Asia for years.