Japan has marked a historic turning point with the election of Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister, a development that has reverberated throughout Asia and beyond. On October 21, 2025, Takaichi was elected by Japan’s parliament, ending a protracted three-month political vacuum that followed the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) stinging defeat in the July elections. Her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, resigned with his entire cabinet earlier that day, having lasted just a year in office, paving the way for Takaichi’s rise to power.
Takaichi’s ascent is significant not only for breaking gender barriers in Japan’s male-dominated political landscape but also for the ideological shift it signals. According to Kyodo News, Takaichi is widely regarded as an ultraconservative politician whose views echo traditionalist and nationalist rhetoric, drawing comparisons to the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Chinese state media have gone so far as to label her a right-wing nationalist and successor to Abe, who was assassinated in 2022. Many lawmakers in Japan view her as carrying forward Abe’s legacy, especially in her hawkish stance on security and her pro-Taiwan position.
Yet, the international response to Takaichi’s election has been a tale of two worlds. On the one hand, leaders from the United Arab Emirates, including President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, extended warm congratulations to Japan’s new leader. Their messages, sent on October 23, 2025, signaled a willingness among some global players to engage with Takaichi’s government, despite its rightward tilt.
On the other hand, China’s reaction has been markedly cool, if not outright wary. Since 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory messages to every new Japanese prime minister on their first day in office—Yoshihide Suga in 2020, Fumio Kishida in 2021, and Shigeru Ishiba in 2024. But this time, Xi broke with tradition and withheld any overt message of congratulations to Takaichi. When pressed by reporters at a regular press conference on October 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun declined to confirm whether Xi had sent any message at all, stating only that “appropriate arrangements have been made in accordance with diplomatic practice.”
Guo’s remarks didn’t stop there. He criticized Japan’s recent security policy shifts, casting doubt on the country’s continued commitment to an exclusively defense-oriented posture and to peaceful development. “Japan’s major adjustments in recent years have raised serious doubts about whether it will remain committed to an exclusively defense-oriented policy and the path of peaceful development,” Guo said, according to Kyodo News. In what was widely interpreted as a warning to Takaichi, Guo called on Tokyo to “fully understand and respect” China’s position that Taiwan is part of its territory. With Takaichi’s well-known support for Taiwan, the message from Beijing was unmistakable: any move perceived as challenging China’s sovereignty claims would not go unnoticed.
Domestically, Takaichi’s leadership is poised to face formidable challenges, especially on the economic front. As reported by Devdiscourse, Japan is grappling with a declining and aging population—a demographic time bomb that threatens to undermine the country’s economic vitality for decades to come. Takaichi’s policy prescriptions have thus far emphasized pro-natalist measures, aiming to boost birth rates by supporting traditional family structures. However, critics argue that her reluctance to embrace immigration reforms, a stance rooted in her desire to protect “national identity and traditional values,” could exacerbate labor shortages and perpetuate economic stagnation.
“Her policies echo global right-wing positions, particularly her anti-immigrant views that aim to protect ‘national identity and traditional values,’” Devdiscourse notes. While Takaichi has prioritized economic growth, her government’s aversion to significant immigration reforms stands in stark contrast to the strategies adopted by other developed nations facing similar demographic headwinds. The question many in Japan are now asking: Can pro-natalist policies alone offset the effects of a shrinking workforce, or will Japan need to reconsider its approach to immigration if it hopes to maintain its economic standing?
Further complicating matters is the political landscape Takaichi inherits. Her government, formed through a coalition with a new partner expected to pull the governing bloc further to the right, is marked by limited parliamentary support and internal fragility. According to reporting from the Gulf Today, the coalition deal was struck only after intense wrangling during the three-month vacuum, and the partnership is widely seen as a move that could make it even harder for Takaichi to build consensus on controversial reforms.
Takaichi’s traditionalist views extend beyond security and immigration. She has drawn criticism for her positions on women’s roles in society, with detractors arguing that her leadership does not align with feminist or progressive ideals. Despite her status as Japan’s first female prime minister—a milestone celebrated by many—her policies and rhetoric have left some questioning whether her tenure will result in meaningful advances for gender equality.
Internationally, Takaichi’s rise has also reignited debates about Japan’s strategic direction. Her advocacy for bolstering Japan’s defense capabilities, especially in the context of a rising China and growing regional tensions, has drawn both praise and concern. According to Kyodo News, Takaichi’s pro-Taiwan stance is viewed in Beijing as a direct challenge to Chinese interests, further straining bilateral relations that have already been tested by disputes over territory and history.
Yet, not all observers are pessimistic. Some argue that Takaichi’s strong leadership style and willingness to confront difficult issues could inject much-needed dynamism into Japan’s often staid political scene. Supporters point to her ability to break barriers and her commitment to revitalizing the economy, even if her methods and ideology remain contentious.
As Japan navigates this new era under Takaichi’s leadership, the world will be watching closely. Will she succeed in steering the country through economic and demographic storms, or will her ultraconservative policies and fragile coalition prove to be insurmountable obstacles? For now, one thing is certain: Sanae Takaichi’s premiership marks a dramatic shift in Japanese politics, with implications that will be felt far beyond Tokyo’s corridors of power.
The coming months will reveal whether Japan’s first female prime minister can overcome the challenges before her—or whether her tenure will be defined by the very divisions her election has brought to the surface.
