Abe protege Sanae Takaichi emerges as favourite in Japan's ruling LDP leadership race

Key Concepts:

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election
• Nationalism
• Hawkish stance on defense and foreign policy
• Yasukuni Shrine controversy
• Economic stimulus vs. fiscal discipline
• Monetary easing
• Targeted tax relief

1. Main Candidates and Their Backgrounds:

• Sanae Takaichi: Emerged as a favorite to succeed incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. First elected to the lower house in 1993. Protégée of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Served as internal affairs minister and economic security minister.
• Shinjiro Koizumi: Agriculture Minister, also in the running.

2. Takaichi's Political Stance:

• Nationalist and Hawkish: Like Abe, Takaichi is seen as a nationalist with a hawkish stance on defense and foreign policy.
• Taiwan Ties: Fosters ties with Taiwan.
• Yasukuni Shrine: Regularly visits Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial symbol of Japan's wartime militarism. This shrine honors war dead, including war criminals. Visits by Japanese leaders anger China and South Korea.
• Softened Stance: Toned down nationalistic views and pro-Taiwan stance since beginning her latest campaign. Remained noncommittal on future Yasukuni Shrine visits.
• Conservative on Immigration and Foreign Investment: Hopes this stance will win back supporters drifting to right-wing parties.

3. Takaichi's Economic Policies:

• Shift to Economics: Agenda centered around a return to economics, addressing public concerns about economic woes and the rising cost of living.
• Pro-Stimulus Approach: Calls for monetary easing, increased government spending, and targeted tax relief to boost growth.
• Departure from Fiscal Discipline: This approach is a departure from the current administration's goal of fiscal discipline.
• Softened Criticism of Central Bank: Has softened her criticism of the central bank's rate hikes, which previously raised concerns.

4. Yasukuni Shrine Controversy:

• Symbol of Wartime Militarism: The shrine honors war dead, including war criminals.
• Angers Neighbors: Visits by Japanese leaders to the shrine are likely to anger China and South Korea.

5. Election Dynamics:

• Third Bid: This is Takaichi's third bid to lead the LDP.
• Previous Run: Last year, she won the most votes in the first round but lost in the runoff against Shigeru Ishiba.
• Close Contest: Latest media polls show a close contest between Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi.
• Support Base: Part of the LDP's support base is drifting to right-wing parties such as Sansto.

6. Conclusion:

The LDP leadership election presents a choice between candidates with differing approaches to economic policy and foreign relations. Takaichi's shift towards economic stimulus and her softened stance on certain issues reflect an attempt to broaden her appeal while maintaining her core conservative values. The outcome of the election will likely have significant implications for Japan's domestic and foreign policy direction.