Takaichi Secures Supermajority in Snap Election, Signals Message to China

• Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) secured a legislative supermajority in Sunday's snap election.
• The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a postwar record of 316 seats, giving Takaichi the two-thirds supermajority needed to dominate the Diet.
• The win provides a mandate for Takaichi's 'Sanaenomics' fiscal policies and her 'Peace Through Strength' stance toward China, including increased military spending and constitutional reform.
• The election was a gamble for Takaichi, who took office in October 2025 and called the rare winter vote amid critics' accusations of political opportunism.
• Donald Trump endorsed Takaichi, emphasizing a strong US-Japan alliance, while Beijing's attempts to diplomatically isolate Takaichi over her Taiwan comments backfired.