TOKYO -- Sanae Takaichi burnished her conservative credentials in launching her bid Wednesday to lead Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, stressing the need to strengthen economic security to counter an increasingly aggressive China.
Takaichi, a 60-year-old former Japanese internal affairs minister, is seeking to represent the hawkish wing of the party that has dominated postwar Japanese politics. She has reportedly been backed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who led the country from 2012 to 2020.
