Japan’s newly reelected leader pursues stronger ties with U.S.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday expressed hopes of deepening her relationship with President Trump and strengthening cooperation between the two countries in rare earths development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington next month.

- By Mari YAMAGUCHI

PRIME MINISTER Sanae Takaichi, flanked by party officials, will meet with President Trump in March.

(Kim Kyung-Hoon Pool Photo)

At anews conference late Wednesday, Takaichi expressed hopes of strengthening cooperation with the US., especially in economic security, as tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have risen over the last few months.

Takaichi, elected as Japans first female leader in October, was reappointed by parliament as prime minister earlier in the day and formed her second Cabinet, after a landslide election win last week.

Her goals include an increase in military power, more government spending and ultraconservative social policies.

Takaichi aims to use the mandate she got in the election to boost her ruling Liberal Democratic Party as it looks to capitalize on a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two parliamentary chambers.

Supermajority clout

Having two-thirds control of the 465-seat lower house allows Takaichi’s party to dominate top posts in house committees and push through bills rejected by the upper house, the chamber where the LDP-led ruling coalition lacks a majority.

Takaichi wants to bolster Japan's military capability and arms sales, tighten immigration policies, push male-only imperial succession rules and preserve a criticized tradition that pressures women into abandoning their surnames.