Two major players in India’s neighbourhood, both economically and strategically, are China and Japan. With US President Donald Trump’s unorthodox policies upending global certainties, relationships in its backyard have attained more significance for India. In this context, Japan’s ruling political party electing a new leader , and China’s attitude towards her, are worth tracking for New Delhi.

The results of the presidential election for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party were announced on October 4. Sanae Takaichi defeated her closest rival Shinjiro Koizumi to become the first woman to lead the conservative party that has long dominated Japan’s politics. She is now poised to become Prime Minister, by October 15.

How has China reacted?

China, as Japan’s watchful neighbour with

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