18 h. ago Japan, China continue to spar at UN over Takaichi remarks on Taiwan

Japan, China continue to spar at UN over Takaichi remarks on Taiwan  Al Jazeera

Politics

19 h. ago Why Beijing thinks Japan PM Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks challenge post

Beijing has condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, not only as a violation of the one-China principle but also as a challenge to the post-war international order. Takaichi suggested on November 7 that Tokyo could respond militarily to a potential attack on the island, making her the first sitting Japanese leader since World War II to publicly link a Taiwan contingency with the possible deployment of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces. Beijing regards Taiwan’s restoration...

Politics

21 h. ago Japan moves to ease tensions; China’s reusable rocket: SCMP’s weekly roundup

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait After weeks of turmoil in relations with China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to dial down tensions with Beijing over a...

Events

21 h. ago Chinese boy lost after US detention, helper’s last call in fire: weekly roundup

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait After weeks of turmoil in relations with China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to dial down tensions with Beijing over a...

Events

22 h. ago Japan's U.N. envoy again rebuts China's criticism of Takaichi's remarks

Japan's U.N. envoy again rebuts China's criticism of Takaichi's remarks  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

39 h. ago China reiterates demand Japan retract Premier Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan

China reiterates demand Japan retract Premier Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan  Anadolu Ajansı

Politics

43 h. ago Bag, pen, workwear: how Takaichi became Japan’s unexpected fashion icon

The pledge by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “work, work, work, work and work” for her country has been named the catchphrase of the year. The ultraconservative Takaichi uttered the phrase in October when she was elected as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Many were initially as worried about her work ethic as supportive of her enthusiasm. Accepting her award from a private committee this week, Takaichi said she only wanted to stress her enthusiasm and that her comments had...

Politics

48 h. ago Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Repeats 1972 Stance Respecting China’s View on Taiwan

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Repeats 1972 Stance Respecting China’s View on Taiwan  Bloomberg.com

Politics

50 h. ago Trump says next steps for Ukraine talks unclear after Putin meeting

The path ahead for Ukraine peace talks is unclear, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, after what he called “reasonably good” talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Putin accepted some US proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and was prepared to keep working to find a compromise. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner spent hours at the Kremlin, departing in the early hours of...

Politics

52 h. ago Why peeling back layers of strategic ambiguity will only hurt Japan

Putting aside the ongoing war of words between Beijing and Tokyo surrounding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on Taiwan last month, there is a simple question that needs answering. Can Japan’s Self-Defence Forces really afford to fight the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) without American military support? Takaichi’s answer appears to be that Japan’s military must do so. The legislation approved by Japan’s Diet in September 2015 allowed the country to exercise its right of...

Politics

62 h. ago Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait

After weeks of turmoil in relations with China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to dial down tensions with Beijing over a hypothetical conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Responding to a lawmaker’s question on Wednesday, Takaichi told the Japanese parliament that Tokyo’s position on the island remained unchanged and referred to a 1972 commitment that led to the normalisation of ties between Beijing and Tokyo. “The Japanese government’s basic position regarding Taiwan remains as...

Events

7 d. ago Beijing freezes Japan youth exchange programmes over Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks

Beijing has frozen youth exchange programmes with Tokyo amid continuing fallout over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, a diplomatic source said, raising concern that the bilateral rift could affect generations to come. The Japanese side was told about the cancelled programmes in recent weeks after China launched retaliatory measures against Japan over Takaichi’s comments earlier this month, according to the diplomatic source. “Usually, November and December are the...

Politics

7 d. ago Beijing freezes Japan youth exchange programmes over Takaichi Taiwan row

Beijing has frozen youth exchange programmes with Tokyo amid the fallout over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, according to a diplomatic source, raising concern that the bilateral rift could affect younger generations. The Japanese side was told about the cancelled programmes after China launched retaliatory measures against Japan over Takaichi’s comments earlier this month, the source said. “Usually, November and December are the season for youth exchanges, but now...

Politics

7 d. ago Exclusive | Beijing freezes Japan youth exchange programmes over Takaichi Taiwan row

Exclusive | Beijing freezes Japan youth exchange programmes over Takaichi Taiwan row  South China Morning Post

Politics

8 d. ago China's Latest Okinawa Propaganda Meant to Pressure Takaichi on Taiwan

China's Latest Okinawa Propaganda Meant to Pressure Takaichi on Taiwan  JAPAN Forward

Events

8 d. ago Prisoners escape French jail, saw through bars and use bedsheets

Police in France were hunting for two prisoners who escaped from a jail using bedsheets after sawing through the bars of their cell. France has some of the worst prison overcrowding in Europe, and staff unions have complained that the state was neglecting normal jails as it moved narco criminals into new supermax prisons. Guards noticed that the two men had escaped from the jail in the eastern city of Dijon shortly before dawn, the prisons authority said on Thursday. The pair “seem to have sawn...

Events

8 d. ago Japan denies report Trump told PM Takaichi not to provoke China on Taiwan

Japan denies report Trump told PM Takaichi not to provoke China on Taiwan  Al Jazeera

Politics

8 d. ago Why Beijing is unlikely to ease up on Japan over Takaichi’s Taiwan comments

The diplomatic crisis over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan shows no sign of easing after two weeks, with mainland Chinese commentators predicting Beijing will continue to push for a retraction. However, that demand appears unlikely to be met in the short term, and one diplomatic analyst warned that the pressure tactics should aim to avoid a nationalist backlash within Japan and win support for Beijing’s position. The Chinese foreign ministry and state media stepped...

Politics

8 d. ago Why Beijing is unlikely to ease up on Japan over Takaichi's comments on Taiwan

Why Beijing is unlikely to ease up on Japan over Takaichi's comments on Taiwan  Yahoo

Politics

8 d. ago Trump urged Japan's Takaichi not to aggravate China dispute, sources say

Trump urged Japan's Takaichi not to aggravate China dispute, sources say  Reuters

Politics