Japanese political system lessonsBy Yang Chih-chiang 楊智強After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last week announced her plans to dissolve the Japanese parliament and call a snap election, some people saw this as a potential model for institutional reform. However, what people should pay attention to is whether Taiwan’s political parties have the capacity to ensure the country’s regular functioning. However, unlike in Taiwan, the Japanese prime minister can dissolve parliament in the event of a political deadlock and call snap elections to seek a new mandate. Once political parties refuse to cooperate, governance grinds to a halt. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party must take their positions seriously.

Source: Taipei Times January 26, 2026 17:50 UTC