Japan’s new leader infuriated Beijing. She isn’t backing down.

Sanae Takaichi has been Japan’s first female prime minister for barely a month and already she has made an impression on the world’s two most powerful men.

- Jason Douglas and Junko Fukutome

Workaholic Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is riding high despite the perils of a fight with Beijing.

(AFP)

First, it was President Trump, who gushed on an October trip to Tokyo that she would prove to be one of Japan's greatest leaders.

Next, it was Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who was infuriated by her remark that Japan would likely get sucked into a war if China made a move on Taiwan. Takaichi’s comment ignited an economic and political pressure campaign that has seen Beijing berate Tokyo at the United Nations, cancel tourist flights to Japan and threaten a ban on imports of Japanese seafood.

The result for Takaichi? Buoyant approval ratings for her month-old government.

“I think she did a good job. I've been waiting for Ms. Takaichi to speak up like that,” said Mie Tanaka, who was enjoying the sunshine Saturday near the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium. She expects the spat will rumble on but said she isn’t worried about it. “I think we should just let China say what it wants,” she said, adding that “Japan has the U.S. on our side.”

Takaichi, 64 years old, took the reins in Japan in late October after winning the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on what was her third attempt.

A conservative who favors blue jackets and a roomy handbag, she vowed on taking office to “work like a horse” to revitalize Japan’s economy and burnish the country’s global prestige.