Japanese PM's support stays solid as China spat festers

Majority in polls back PM Takaichi in dispute with Beijing over Taiwan comments

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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 in November.

The surveys showed that about 70 per cent of respondents supported Ms Takaichi's administration.

The Nikkei newspaper put her approval rating at 75 per cent, the Yomiuri at 73 per cent and Kyodo newswire at 67.5 per cent, while the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers put the figure at 68 per cent and 67 per cent respectively.

The poll results tracked a continued trend since she became the first woman to take the top job in October.

She took over at a time when the ruling bloc's grip on power was weakened by its loss of majorities in both chambers of Parliament.

Since then, she has weathered the collapse of a longstanding coalition between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito and ushered in a new partnership with the Japan Innovation Party as well as the influx of a handful of independent lawmakers that allowed her to reclaim a razor-thin majority in the Lower House.

The premier has also passed an extra budget with the help of some opposition parties.