Support for Japan PM Takaichi’s Cabinet Dips to 67.5%

Public support for the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has slipped to 67.5%, with a majority of respondents saying her remarks on a potential Taiwan contingency — which have strained ties with China — could hurt Japan’s economy, according to a Kyodo News survey, Kyodo News reported.

Relations between Japan and China have worsened since Takaichi said in parliament on Nov. 7 that an attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. (Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan X)

Despite the decline, 57% of respondents said they did not consider Takaichi’s comments to be careless.

Relations between Japan and China have worsened since Takaichi said in parliament on Nov. 7 that an attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan — remarks widely interpreted as signaling possible involvement by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces alongside the US.

The two-day telephone poll found the Cabinet’s approval rating fell 2.4 percentage points from the previous month.

Separately, 64.6% of respondents said they are increasingly concerned about Japan’s fiscal health following the passage of an 18.3 trillion yen ($116 billion) supplementary budget for the current fiscal year ending in March.

The government plans to issue 11.7 trillion yen in new bonds to cover more than 60% of the total, Mainichi Japan reported.