Support for Japan’s Takaichi Stays Firm as China Dispute Festers

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s support ratings held steady at historically high levels according to polls conducted over the weekend, in a sign of her continued popularity despite the fallout from a dispute with China over comments she made on Taiwan last month.

Surveys conducted over the weekend showed that about 70% of respondents were in support of Takaichi’s administration. The Nikkei newspaper put her approval rating at 75%, the Yomiuri at 73% and Kyodo newswire at 67.5%, while the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers put the figure at 68% and 67% respectively. An FNN poll gave the premier a support rating of 75.9%.