The Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi The government is considering calling early parliamentary elections during the first half of February, the daily newspaper reported on Friday. Yomiuri Shimbun, citing government sources.
Such a decision would allow Takaichi, the first woman to lead the Japanese government, to capitalize on her popularity since taking office in October. Her hard line toward China has appealed to a segment of the conservative electorate, while simultaneously causing a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations with Beijing.
According to the newspaper, February 8th and 15th are currently being considered for the election. The Prime Minister's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), allied with the conservative Ishin party, holds only a few seats short of a majority in the lower house, thus reinforcing the strategic importance of early voting.
The announcement had an immediate impact on the markets, with the dollar appreciating against the yen after the information was released.
Last year, Takaichi triggered the most serious diplomatic crisis between Tokyo and Beijing in over a decade by asserting that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan. China, which claims the democratically governed island as part of its territory, reacted strongly.
Since then, Beijing has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, canceled bilateral meetings and events, and restricted exports of dual-use goods that could be used by the Japanese military.
