Beijing watching as Japan's incoming PM signals pragmatism in China policy

Informal diplomatic exchanges with Taiwan, controversial shrine visits likely to stop

- Michelle Ng China Correspondent and Walter Sim Japan Correspondent

Despite making statements during her three-decade political career that are revisionist and antagonistic to Japan's neighbours, Ms Sanae Takaichi drastically moderated her stance during her recent run for office. The spotlight is now on whether her conservative leanings will emerge. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

Japan’s incoming prime minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly skipping a visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in the coming week, a move Beijing will read for clues on whether she will continue her predecessor’s pragmatic course or take a harder turn in China-Japan relations.

Ms Takaichi, 64, is poised to become Japan’s first woman prime minister, after she was elected as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Oct 4.

She is set to take office when the Diet convenes for an extraordinary session, likely on Oct 15.

Despite having made statements across her three-decade political career that are revisionist and antagonistic to Japan’s neighbours, she drastically moderated her stance during her recent successful run for office.

Now, the spotlight is on whether her strong conservative leanings will emerge, and if she will ruffle any feathers in her first diplomatic tests.

These tests will come quickly, as she is slated to meet soon with the leaders of strategic rivals the United States — a security ally of Japan — and China, a neighbour with which Tokyo has had testy ties.

US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Tokyo for talks from Oct 27 to 29, with his trip bookended by Ms Takaichi’s own travels to Malaysia for Asean-related summits and to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings.

Tokyo is understood to be trying to arrange for a leaders’ summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Apec conference, with such meetings being held every year since 2022.