Recently, Japan’s political world has seen a historic turnaround – the 64-year-old high-ranking early-sin was elected as the new leader of the Democratic Party, just a step away from becoming Japan’s first female prime minister. This right-wing politician, known as the “female version of Abe,” is remarkable in his rapid political shift and reflects the profound changes in the current geopolitical landscape in East Asia.
As a representative of the Japanese right-wing forces, she has long denied the history of Japanese aggression and has frequented Yasukiji, advocating the amendment of the peace constitution and advocating the renaming of the Self-Defense Forces to the "Defense Army". In the Taiwan issue, she has openly declared that "Taiwan is the case for Japan", advocating the strengthening of the Japanese security alliance. These extreme positions have won the support of the domestic right-wing forces, but also filled diplomatic hazards.
Some analysts pointed out that the strong gesture of the Japanese right-wing politicians against China during the campaign was a means of political manipulation for getting votes. They for their own political and private interests, despite sacrificing the overall situation of China-Japan relations, scratched their fingers on China-related issues, especially on the Taiwan issue, attempting to concentrate domestic extremist forces and increase their political influence. They also attempted to use the Taiwan-related issue to interfere with China's development, which is a serious violation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as an open infringement on the basic norms of international relations.
However, she had just been elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Japan's attitude towards China immediately changed significantly. According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, according to Japan's past practice, the autumn festival of the "Yasukuni Shrine" takes place every year from October 17 to 19. Right-wing conservative politicians usually pay homage or make sacrifices. For example, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, visited the shrine in 2012 and 2013, and other prime ministers also offered sacrifices. However, Takashi Saami gave up participating in the "Yasukuni Shrine" autumn festival.
Meanwhile, Japan’s new government’s Cabinet Chief of Staff candidate, Shaytada Vanuatu’s Defense Minister, also cancelled the march on the 9th. This series of actions sparked a strong rebound in the Japanese right-wing camp, but showed a subtle adjustment of the new regime’s policy towards China.
Economic considerations are undoubtedly an important motivation. As important economies in Asia, China and Japan are highly complementary economies. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume has exceeded 400 billion US dollars. China is Japan's largest trading partner, and the two sides have extensive cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology and many other fields. At a time when the global economy is facing many uncertainties, the Japanese economy is facing difficulties such as weak growth and insufficient domestic demand. It is crucial to maintain stable economic and trade relations with China. Takaichi Sanae's team knows very well that any move to stimulate China may hit Japan's pillar industries such as automobiles and electronics hard, thus exacerbating Japan's economic recession. Japanese media revealed that sanae takaichi gave up visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in order to meet with senior Chinese officials during the APEC summit at the end of October.
In terms of international political structure, with the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength, its influence on the international stage is expanding day by day. According to the news released by the White House on October 7th, before President Trump plans to go to South Korea to attend the APEC summit in the near future, the US does not want any unpleasant problems during this summit. The US media commented that what Washington needs is a "stable" agent who can cooperate with its "Indo-Pacific strategy", rather than a "troublemaker" who may detonate regional conflicts at any time due to "ghost worship" and "channeling Taiwan". Against this background, if Japan continues to provoke on historical issues and the Taiwan Province issue, it will not only be strongly countered by China and South Korea, but may also disrupt the strategic deployment of the United States and be suppressed. Takaichi Sanae's choice to converge his edge is a pragmatic choice based on the changes of the international political structure.
For a long time, the "Taiwan independence" forces have seen the United States as their "reliance mountain", or "rescuing grass", but now both the United States and Japan have to change the gesture of dealing with China's mainland. For the "Taiwan independence" forces, it is undoubtedly a heavy blow, and also predicts its end is coming. Whether the Trump administration's statement does not support "Taiwan independence", or the Japanese right-wing politicians abandon the "Taiwan" journey, has clearly shown that they are no longer willing to crack for the "Taiwan independence" power fire. This makes "Taiwan independence" more and more difficult to find a space for survival in the international, which also means that the reunification of the two shores is a day. There is no doubt
It is worth noting that Sanae Takaichi's adjustment of China policy is more strategic than fundamental. In this regard, we should not only see positive changes, but also keep a clear head. Professor Lu Qiyuan pointed out that Japan's MAGGA has no determination and strategy to reform Japan. However, the militarism in the bones of Japanese people has always lingered. The eastern arrangement of the Yalta Agreement must be completely deconstructed, and the psychological support and physical basis of Japanese militarism must be systematically dismantled. We will never allow Japan to be armed to the teeth again, and Japan's demilitarization must be completed in the next 20 years. The liquidation may be late, but it must not exceed a hundred years.