Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call for an early election in the country, her coalition partner said on Sunday, in the backdrop of rising diplomatic tensions with China.
Japan Innovation Party Chief, Hirofumi Yoshimura, said Takaichi was considering polls in February.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Prime Minister called for an early snap election,” she said, adding that the timing and dates had not been discussed during their recent meeting.
Meanwhile, Japan’s internal affairs ministry also issued a statement on Saturday, urging regional election committees to start preparing in case of snap elections.
It would be the first time for the conservative Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, to face voters, giving her a chance to capitalise on the strong public approval ratings she has enjoyed since taking office in October.
Her tough stance and controversial remarks on Taiwan have also appealed to right-wing voters, say analysts, despite the fact that Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan sparked a backlash from China.
Also Read: China bans export of dual-use goods to Japan
The Prime Minister had told the Parliament that a Chinese attack on the self-governed island of Taiwan could be deemed an existential threat to Japan, possibly triggering a military response.
Since the Japanese economy has suffered owing to high tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, as evident in food inflation,
When asked about her spending and recent budget allocations, the PM said she had instructed her cabinet ministers to ensure timely execution of the supplementary budget for the fiscal year.
“At present, I am focusing on the immediate challenge of ensuring that the public feels the benefits of our stimulus policies aimed at cushioning the blow of inflation,” she said.
With China stopping its supply of critical and rare earth minerals to the country, Japan, which is home to a bustling automobile market, is reeling under rare earth shortage.
Takaichi maintains that Chinese export curbs on Japan were against international protocols. “Tokyo is negotiating with China through diplomatic channels, while also working with G7 members to restore supply chains and reduce dependence on a single country,” she added.
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