Japan-China Relations

A strong victory for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the February 8 snap election could prompt China to reconsider its escalating pressure, according to current and former officials and analysts. Weeks after taking office last year, Takaichi sparked the biggest diplomatic dispute with Beijing in over a decade by outlining Tokyo's potential response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Beijing has demanded she retract her remarks, which she has refused, leading to retaliatory measures that are beginning to weigh on Japan's economy.

9 januari 2026 Rapporterad av AI

Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is considering dissolving the lower house for a snap election in early February. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, the move aims to capitalize on her strong approval ratings since taking office in October. Her tough stance on China has appealed to right-wing voters but ignited a major diplomatic row with the Asian neighbor.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested the possibility of Self-Defense Forces deployment in a Taiwan contingency, prompting a threatening social media post from a Chinese diplomat that drew strong protests from Tokyo. Takaichi refused to retract her statements, claiming they aligned with the government's views, but said she would avoid specific scenarios in future. The exchange has heightened tensions in Japan-China relations.

2 november 2025 Rapporterad av AI

The territorial dispute over islands controlled by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus continues with arguments rooted in historical facts. Japan asserts incorporation as terra nullius in 1895, while China's claim is said to date from the 1970s following resource discoveries.