New Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chief Sanae Takaichi's way to become Japan's first female prime minister became uncertain after the ruling party's junior ally Komeito announced to terminate their decades-old coalition on Friday, according to a political expert.
Komeito chief Tetsuo Saito had a meeting with Takaichi on Friday afternoon that lasted about one hour and a half. Saito told reporters later that his party will end its 26-year alliance with the LDP, citing the ruling party's "insufficient" response to a high-profile political funds scandal.
Takaichi won the LDP presidential election on Oct 4, becoming the ruling party's first female leader and, in all likelihood, the country's first woman prime minister. Following Saito's announcement, Takaichi told reporters that the "unilateral" decision by Komeito was "truly regrettable."
The National Diet, Japan's parliament, is set to convene a special session on Oct 15 to elect a new prime minister. For Takaichi to become Japan's first female prime minister, she must be appointed by the Diet. Komeito's breakup means the LDP will need to court opposition parties to vote Takaichi in as Japan's next prime minister.
"In this situation, the Liberal Democratic Party will pace up the negotiations on a coalition regime with the Democratic Party for the People (DPP). But the DPP is also very prudent on this point, so this will take time. If the Diet convenes a session at this time and Takashi is to serve as the prime minister, it will be very difficult for the parliament to operate," said Japanese political scholar Noriyuki Kawamura.
He said that the LDP lost a large number of seats in both the House of Representatives election last October and the House of Councillors election this July, indicating that the LDP has lost the support of the people.
"Japanese voters already expressed their will in the House of Councillors election in July. The Japanese people hope to realize two objectives: First, as prices kept rising over the past two or three years, which has made daily life very hard, they hope for swift solutions to inflation. The other is the issue of 'black money' within the LDP. Takaichi as the newly elected LDP leader has indicated that lawmakers under prosecutors' investigation will continue to function as they were, which completely goes against public expectations. If this is to go on, it might be unlikely to restore public trust. How to settle this issue is crucial," said Kawamura.
Coalition breakup blurs Takaichi's vision of 1st female PM: expert
Coalition breakup blurs Takaichi's vision of 1st female PM: expert
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
