Japan Premier Hopeful Charts Collision Course With China
- Takaichi chats with Taiwan leader, welcomes U.S. missiles
- Candidacy shows risk of tensions between top Asian economies
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If China has a favorite in the battle to be Japan’s next prime minister, it’s probably not Sanae Takaichi.
The former internal affairs minister has sought to stand out in the four-way race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party with hawkish policies toward Japan’s powerful neighbor and top trading partner. Among other things, she held an online meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen and expressed a willingness to deploy U.S. intermediate-range missiles in Japan.