TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Sanae Takaichi may call an early general election, the head of her party’s coalition partner said on Sunday, after media reported she was considering a February vote.

It would be the first time for the conservative Ms. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a fan of Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, to face the voters, giving her a chance to capitalize on the strong public approval ratings she has enjoyed since taking office in October.

Her tough stance on China has appealed to right-wing voters but has sparked a major diplomatic dispute with Japan’s powerful Asian neighbor.

Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, told public broadcaster NHK he had met with Ms. Takaichi on Friday and felt her view on the timing of an election had shifted to a “new stage.”

ELECTION WOULD COMPLICATE TAKAICHI’S SPENDING PLANS
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the decision as reported by the media,” Mr. Yoshimura said. The Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday, citing government sources, that Ms. Takaichi was considering holding a snap election on Feb. 8 or 15.

Mr. Yoshimura said he and Ms. Takaichi did not discuss the specific timing of any election.

Ms. Takaichi was mum on when she would call an election during an interview with NHK recorded on Thursday and aired on Sunday.

Ms. Takaichi, an advocate of big spending to boost Asia’s second-biggest economy, said she had just instructed her cabinet ministers to ensure the timely execution of the supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March and parliamentary approval of next fiscal year’s budget.

“At present, I am focusing on the immediate challenge of ensuring that the public feels the benefits of our stimulus policies aimed at cushioning the blow of inflation,” she said.

But Tetsuo Saito, head of the opposition Komeito, said a February election “would make it impossible to pass the budget by the fiscal yearend, at a time Japan’s economy faces a critical phase,” telling NHK he was surprised by the reports that Ms. Takaichi was considering dissolving parliament when it convenes on Jan. 23.

Ms. Takaichi’s $783-billion spending proposal, her first budget as prime minister, includes her flagship spending program. The yen fell against the dollar on Friday after the Yomiuri report on her election plans.

Japan’s economy has weathered the hit from higher US tariffs, but stubborn food inflation has weighed on consumption.

If Ms. Takaichi cannot enact the budget by the end of March, her government would have to compile a stop-gap budget, which could delay execution of spending measures.

ECONOMIC RISK FROM CHINA DISPUTE
Japan’s internal affairs ministry issued a statement on Saturday urging regional election committees to start preparing in case of an early election. While the ministry said it was just responding to media reports, political analyst Shigenobu Tamura said the statement meant the election was a “done deal.”

Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and head of the largest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said he had expected Ms. Takaichi to pass the budget before calling an election but now felt she would dissolve parliament on Jan. 23.

Another economic risk for Japan is its trade tension with China, which could deal a blow to its export-reliant economy if Beijing imposes curbs on vital rare earths.

Ms. Takaichi touched off the dispute in November by saying a Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could be deemed an existential threat to Japan, which could trigger a military response from Tokyo. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim the island’s government rejects.

Since then, China has urged its citizens not to travel to Japan, canceled meetings and events, and banned exports of dual-use items for Japan’s military, among other measures.

Ms. Takaichi told NHK that Chinese export curbs targeting Japan alone were against international protocols and unacceptable. Japan is negotiating with China through diplomatic channels, while working with its Group of Seven partners to build supply chains that reduce reliance on “a particular country,” she said.

Japan’s next lower house election does not need to be held until October 2028. A strong win in an early election would enhance Ms. Takaichi’s grip on the coalition. Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Ishin hold a narrow majority in the lower house but are in a minority in the upper house.

Ms. Takaichi became prime minister by winning the LDP presidency after her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, oversaw a string of electoral losses. She was approved by parliament but has not run in a national election. — Reuters

SYDNEY — Thousands of people in Australia’s northeast state of Queensland were without power on Sunday after a tropical cyclone crossed the coast bringing heavy rain and destructive winds.

Koji, a category one cyclone, made landfall between the towns of Ayr and Bowen, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of state capital Brisbane, before weakening to a tropical low, the nation’s weather forecaster said.

The storm, with wind gusts of up to 95 kilometers per hour (59 miles per hour) and heavy rain, hit coastal towns including Mackay, a tourist hub and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, it said.

Queensland state Premier David Crisafulli said around 15,000 properties had lost power due to Koji, which had also damaged property and boats, and closed roads.

Koji brought rainfall of up to 200 millimeters (7.8 inches) to some areas overnight and was expected to result in heavy downpours over the next 24 to 48 hours, Mr. Crisafulli said.

“There’s the prospect of flooding, Queenslanders will handle that,” he said in televised remarks from Brisbane.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described flash flooding as a “major risk” across a large stretch of Queensland’s coast.

The weather forecaster said the severe weather would likely persist through Sunday before possibly easing on Monday.

Koji comes after the state was hit in March by Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, bringing damaging winds and heavy rains, cutting power to hundreds of thousands. — Reuters

SEOUL — North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, urged South Korea to investigate recent drone incidents over North Korean airspace, in a statement carried by state media KCNA on Sunday.

Ms. Kim said she appreciated Seoul for making a wise decision to announce its official stance that it has no intention of provocation, warning that any provocations will result in terrible situations.

Drones were flown from South Korea into North Korea earlier this month, after another intrusion in September, North Korea’s military said on Saturday, which was soon followed by South Korea’s response that they were not operated by the military.

South Korea also said there would be a thorough investigation of a civilian possibly having operated the drones, making clear its stance of having no intention of provocation.

“Clear is just the fact that the drone from the ROK violated the airspace of our country,” Ms. Kim said. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.

“No matter who is the perpetrator and whether it is a deed by any civilian organization or individual, the authorities responsible for national security can never evade their responsibility for it,” she said.

South Korea’s Office of National Security said on Sunday it would swiftly release results of its investigation into the drone incidents, as it reaffirmed the government’s stance of having no intention to provoke North Korea.

The administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is seeking to improve ties with North Korea and has proposed military talks.

North Korea has not responded to any calls for dialogue with the South since leader Mr. Kim defined the two Koreas as separate, “hostile” nations at the end of 2023. — Reuters