China Hawk Takaichi Set To Be Japan's First Woman PM

Sanae Takaichi (C) won on October 4 the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost non-stop for decades but is increasingly unpopular (Credit: AFP)

Japan was set to get its first woman prime minister on Tuesday after Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, forged an 11th-hour deal to form a new coalition.

But Japan's fifth premier in as many years will lead a minority government and has a full in-tray, not least a scheduled visit by US President Donald Trump next week.