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

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

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

1 week ago What Donald Trump told Japan PM Sanae Takaichi after speaking with China’s Xi Jinping

What Donald Trump told Japan PM Sanae Takaichi after speaking with China’s Xi Jinping  MSN

Politics

1 week ago Trump calls Takaichi after Xi, China’s cruise dominance: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump talks to Japanese PM hours after his overnight call with China’s Xi Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed “the close cooperation” between Tokyo and Washington in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, hours after Trump spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. 2. China sends emergency return vehicle to space...

Politics

1 week ago Japan PM next on Trump’s telephone list after overnight call with China’s Xi

US President Donald Trump is expected to speak to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday morning, as tensions between China and Japan continue to escalate over Takaichi’s remarks over the Taiwan contingency. Takaichi was reported to be making final arrangements to hold a telephone conversation with Trump, after a request from the White House, according to the Fuji News Network, citing multiple government sources. News of the impending call came shortly after the phone conversation...

Politics

1 week ago Trump calls Japanese PM hours after his overnight call with China’s Xi

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed “the close cooperation” between Tokyo and Washington in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Japanese media reported. The conversation – which took place hours after Trump spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping – covered strengthening of the Japan-US alliance along with the various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, Takaichi said, according to the Fuji News Network. “During the conversation, President...

Politics

1 week ago Trump talks to Japanese PM hours after his overnight call with China’s Xi

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed “the close cooperation” between Tokyo and Washington in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, hours after Trump spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Takaichi said her conversation with Trump covered the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance along with the various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Fuji News Network. The phone call came amid escalating tension between Beijing and Tokyo...

Politics

1 week ago Xi and Trump discuss Taiwan, bilateral ties in rare call, Xinhua reports

Chinese President Xi Jinping and the US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation on Taiwan and Ukraine issues on Monday, according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. The phone call came after a series of fast-changing geopolitics in recent weeks. China has seen an escalating row with Japan over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, and the US has announced a 28-point peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022. Xi clarified Beijing’s...

Politics

1 week ago China’s UN envoy pours fresh scorn on Japan’s ‘unrepentant’ Takaichi

China’s ambassador to the United Nations has doubled down on his criticism of Japan, calling Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi’s earlier comments on Taiwan “highly dangerous” and damaging to the post-war international order. According to state broadcaster CCTV, Fu Cong said in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday that Japan was “unrepentant” for the “blatantly provocative” remarks of its prime minister. He said Takaichi’s comments marked the first time a Japanese leader had...

Politics

1 week ago Could Osaka be Japan’s second capital? Takaichi appears to demur on ally’s plan

When Japan’s then incoming leader Sanae Takaichi was scrambling in October for a new coalition partner so the Liberal Democratic Party could remain in power, she seemed open to requests put forth by the Japan Innovation Party in return for its support. One of the key demands of the JIP was that Osaka should be officially elevated in status to the nation’s “second capital”, with additional infrastructure for the city to enable it to become the seat of government in the event of a natural disaster...

Politics

2 w. ago As Japan takes aim at crypto, first mover Hong Kong must look out

Mere days after her election as Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi delivered a policy speech declaring that a major priority was to build a strong and resilient economy. Since then, her administration has ushered in a rapid-fire series of policies to support digital assets, with the goal of countering Japan’s sluggish economic growth. This shift has introduced a new dynamic in Asia, with Tokyo clearly no longer content to watch Hong Kong become Asia’s premier cryptocurrency hub. Instead,...

Politics

2 w. ago Will China ramp up military activity near Japan over Takaichi’s comments?

Beijing could step up military and coastguard activities near Japan if tensions escalate further following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s provocative remarks on Taiwan, according to analysts. “It cannot be ruled out that there will be new military activities near the Diaoyu Islands,” a government adviser said, referring to the disputed group of islands known as the Senkakus in Japan. The islands, located in the East China Sea, have long been a source of tension between the two...

Events

2 w. ago Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Has Few Good Options to End China’s Retaliation

Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Has Few Good Options to End China’s Retaliation  Bloomberg.com

Politics

2 w. ago Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Japan becoming involved in any potential China

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Japan becoming involved in any potential China-Taiwan conflict have angered Beijing  IslanderNews.com

Politics

3 w. ago 3 PLA warships sailed past Japan amid row over Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan comments

Beijing sent a Type 055 destroyer fleet to the south of Japan on Tuesday, just days after comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan drew a strong reaction from Beijing, according to Tokyo. Japan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that three Chinese ships, including a Type 055 destroyer, had passed through waters south of Kagoshima on Kyushu island on Tuesday before travelling through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean. According to the ministry, the three ships...

Events

3 w. ago 3 PLA warships sailed past Japan amid row over PM Takaichi’s Taiwan comments

Beijing sent a Type 055 destroyer fleet to the south of Japan on Tuesday, according to Tokyo, just days after comments about Taiwan from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew a strong reaction from Beijing. Japan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that three Chinese ships, including a Type 055 destroyer, had passed through waters south of Kagoshima on Kyushu island on Tuesday before travelling through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean. According to a statement from the ministry,...

Events

3 w. ago Has Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion that Japan could deploy its military in response to a Taiwan contingency has escalated diplomatic tensions and risks further damaging bilateral ties, analysts have warned. According to Beijing, Takaichi “seriously damaged bilateral ties” when she told the Japanese parliament on Friday that use of military force in the Taiwan Strait could be seen as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, a situation that could allow Tokyo to engage in...

Events