•  South Korea voices ‘hope’ for maintaining positive momentum in ties with Japan

ISTANBUL

Beijing on Tuesday urged Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “abide by” Tokyo's political “commitments” on Taiwan, urging Japan to cooperate with China.

Remarks by Beijing came after Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chair Sanae Takaichi become the country’s first female prime minister after securing victory in both chambers of the bicameral parliament on Tuesday.

On the election results, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that Beijing noted the results, adding that this matter is Japan's internal affair.

“China and Japan are each other's close neighbors,” Guo told a news conference in Beijing, stressing that “China's fundamental position on its relations with Japan is consistent and clear.”

“We hope Japan will work with us in the same direction,” he said, urging Tokyo to “abide by” its “political commitments related to history in Taiwan," which China considers its "breakaway province."

He called on Japan’s new government to “uphold the political foundation of human relationship and fully advance the China, Japan, strategic relationship of mutual benefit.”

Takaichi was elected during the 219th extraordinary session of the parliament, locally known as Diet in Japan, and is likely to make her first foreign trip to Malaysia for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations later this weekend.

South Korea voices ‘hope’ for maintaining positive momentum in ties with Japan

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday congratulated Takaichi on her election as Japan's new prime minister, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News.

"I hope to work with you to further strengthen future-oriented, mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations and peoples," Lee said, adding: "I also hope that, based on shuttle diplomacy, our leaders will continue to meet frequently and communicate closely."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry also voiced hope to continue the positive momentum in bilateral relations with Japan.

"We will continue to closely communicate and cooperate with Japan's new Cabinet to maintain the positive momentum in bilateral relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Jae-woong said.

"As neighboring countries and global partners amid rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics and trade order, we hope the two sides will work together to further advance a future-oriented relationship," the spokesman told a news conference.

India, Malaysia congratulate Takaichi

The leaders of India and Malaysia also expressed their congratulations to Takaichi on her new position.

"Heartiest congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your election as the Prime Minister of Japan," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said through the US social media company X.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on X that Takaichi's "elevation to office as Japan’s first woman Prime Minister is a landmark in the country’s political life, a reflection of her resolve and the quiet evolution of Japan’s democracy."

For his part, Taiwan's William Lai Ching-te also congratulated Sanae on X, noting that Taiwan and Japan are "close partners who share common values."