The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, regarding the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the House of Representatives election led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, stated that “China policy toward Japan maintains continuity,” and once again demanded that Japan not repeat the path of militarism and withdraw the remark ‘SDF intervention possible in a Taiwan contingency’. Observers warn that if Prime Minister Takaichi pushes foreign and security policies, such as constitutional revision, that could provoke neighboring countries, China·Japan relations could descend to the worst.

At a regular press briefing on the 9th, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said, “The election is a domestic matter for Japan, but the series of deep and structural problems and the flow of mainstream ideology reflected in this election are worth serious reflection by insightful people across all sectors in Japan and by the international community,” adding, “Examples of past failures are not from long ago, so they cannot but be examined.”

Lin said, “We urge the Japanese ruling authorities to face squarely, and not ignore, the concerns of the international community,” and “We demand that they not repeat the path of militarism, that they walk the road of peaceful development, that they abide by the four major China·Japan political documents, and that they not betray trust.” He added, “China policy toward Japan has always maintained continuity and stability and will not change depending on a particular election.”

Lin then said, “We once again demand that the Japanese side retract the erroneous Taiwan-related remarks made by Prime Minister Takaichi.”

Chinese state media and experts, reporting on the general election results, voiced concern about Japan becoming a military great power. Some predicted that if Japan attempts to introduce nuclear weapons or revise the pacifist constitution, China·Japan relations will plunge to the worst.

Chinese political commentator Zheng Hao said on the Hong Kong satellite broadcaster Phoenix TV, “These election results mean that public support for Prime Minister Takaichi is solid,” adding, “The likelihood that he will retract his previous Taiwan-related remarks or change his foreign policy line is slim.” New Tanqin, a social media account affiliated with Xinhua News Agency, commented, “We cannot rule out the possibility that Japan will abandon the ‘three non-nuclear principles (non-possession·non-production·non-introduction)’ and seek to obtain nuclear weapons,” and, “On the Taiwan issue as well, taking a more provocative stance will cause China·Japan relations to fluctuate even more.”

On the other hand, since Prime Minister Takaichi has secured an overwhelming base of support, some believe he will avoid statements aimed at rallying his internal base, focus on economic and livelihood issues, and steer clear of further deterioration in relations with China.

The Hong Kong newspaper Sing Tao Daily analyzed that, ahead of a U.S.·China summit expected in April this year, U.S. President Donald Trump also does not want a situation in which Japan excessively provokes China, and that the likelihood of a material crisis in China·Japan relations is not high.

Reuters, citing experts, also reported that “Prime Minister Takaichi's landslide in the general election shows that China's pressure did not have a decisive impact on local public opinion in Japan,” and predicted that China may recalibrate the level of pressure on Japan going forward. However, within China, there is also a view that measures such as travel advisories and rare-earth controls targeting Japan are aimed at domestic public opinion, making them difficult to withdraw.

Amid a further strengthened xenophobic and rightward-leaning mood in Japan, some warn that historical issues could ignite mass anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese public. Ahead of the election, Japan’s ‘The Pokemon Company’ attempted to hold a children-focused event at Yasukuni Shrine but canceled it after Chinese netizens objected.