https://www.scmp.com/rss/522679/feed The latest news and top stories on Katsunobu Kato. He is currently Japan's Minister of Finance, also holding portfolios for financial services and overcoming deflation. A long-serving politician, he has been a Member of the House of Representatives since 2003 and previously served as Chief Cabinet Secretary and three times as Minister of Health Labour and Welfare. With a background in the Ministry of Finance, he is a proponent of Abenomics, focusing on economic growth and addressing deflation.... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Luna Sun,Mia Nurmamat Luna Sun,Mia Nurmamat Russia remained China’s top crude oil supplier in September, at a time when the United States is stepping up pressure on major economies to curb their reliance on energy from the Eurasian country. Imports from Russia rose 4.3 per cent in volume from August to 8.29 million tonnes in September, accounting for 17.5 per cent of China’s total crude imports, customs data showed – a sign of Beijing’s willingness to maintain trade links with Moscow despite geopolitical frictions. Chinese purchases of US... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329705/chinas-crude-oil-imports-russia-rise-september-despite-us-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329705/chinas-crude-oil-imports-russia-rise-september-despite-us-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:30:18 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that he told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that the Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy. “Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues pertaining to the US-Japan economic relationship and the Administration’s expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy,” Bessent said on social media after the two met on Wednesday. Bessent and Kato met on the sidelines of the annual International... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329187/after-india-us-tells-japan-stop-importing-russian-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329187/after-india-us-tells-japan-stop-importing-russian-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 02:43:27 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party begins the process of selecting a new leader – and by extension, the country’s next prime minister – the race is quickly shaping into a duel between a conservative heir to Shinzo Abe’s legacy and a reformist standard-bearer promising broader appeal within the divided party. The party’s internal election on October 4 follows Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation after barely a year in office, with the winner expected to assume leadership through a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3327041/japans-next-leader-ldp-showdown-pits-abe-protege-against-reformist-scion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Once a niche corner of the cryptocurrency world, stablecoins have surged into the global spotlight this year, prompting analysts and industry insiders to declare that the digital asset’s time has come. In July, US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing the first federal regulatory regime for stablecoins – a move many believe could pave the way for mass-market adoption. Shortly after, Hong Kong introduced its own ordinance, which took effect on August 1, requiring... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324322/chinas-stablecoin-dilemma-why-us-dollar-tokens-matter-and-how-beijing-might-respond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324322/chinas-stablecoin-dilemma-why-us-dollar-tokens-matter-and-how-beijing-might-respond?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is grappling with an identity crisis, its decades-long political dominance rattled first by a humiliating electoral defeat and now, the anticipated resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba, 68, on Wednesday dismissed as “completely unfounded” media reports that he had already decided to step down. But analysts contend that his departure is all but inevitable after the LDP’s second consecutive loss and the collapse of his minority... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319299/japan-pm-ishibas-expected-exit-tips-ruling-ldp-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319299/japan-pm-ishibas-expected-exit-tips-ruling-ldp-crisis-mode?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:07 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Zhao Ziwen Alyssa Chen,Zhao Ziwen Progress in relations between China and Japan could lose some steam if embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba steps down following a crushing electoral loss. Ishiba, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has come under intense pressure since the ruling coalition’s defeat in upper house elections on Sunday. It is the first time since 1955 that the ruling coalition does not have a majority in the upper and lower houses but LDP heavyweights have so far held off on calling publicly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319319/what-does-it-mean-china-if-japans-shigeru-ishiba-stays-or-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319319/what-does-it-mean-china-if-japans-shigeru-ishiba-stays-or-steps-down?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:56:29 +0000