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China-Japan relations

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China-Japan relations
Breaking news and analysis on China-Japan relations, covering trade, investment, the legacy of war in Asia, military tensions and the impact of wider issues such as the US-China trade war and South China Sea.
Open Questions series

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

videocam
15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong

Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump

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40
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Sanae Takaichi has angered Beijing with her comments over Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
Mainland China

Why China is worried by Japan’s plans to change rules on arms sales

The government in Tokyo is considering relaxing its restrictions on exports of lethal weapons amid heightened tensions with Beijing.

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Drones

With an eye on China, Japan looks to kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles

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Self-Defence Forces (Japan)

Chinese navy arrives in Sea of Japan just as Tokyo deploys long-range missiles

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Self-Defence Forces (Japan)

Japan has enough plutonium to make 5,500 nuclear warheads, PLA Daily says

China’s military mouthpiece claims Tokyo has ‘astonishing’ stockpile of nuclear materials and the tech to produce weapons.

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China’s military mouthpiece claimed Japan had “crossed the red line”. Illustration: Shutterstock
Japan

Japan deploys long-range missiles to bases amid China tensions, irking locals

The shifting defence policy drew backlash from Kumamoto residents fearing for their safety.

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Mainland China

Beijing sanctions Japan lawmaker for ‘colluding with Taiwan independence forces’

Foreign ministry says imposing sanctions on Keiji Furuya, who attended Yushan Forum in Taipei, is ‘a decision of deterrence and warning’.

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Self-Defence Forces (Japan)

Japan upgrades ship with Tomahawk missiles. Why it might pose a threat to China

Analysts say the move marks a fundamental shift in Tokyo’s defence strategy, forcing Beijing to stay on high alert.

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Japanese destroyer JS Chokai has been equipped to fire long-range Tomahawk missiles, with the first firing test expected this summer. Photo: Commander, US Third Fleet
Japan

How a Tang dynasty tablet became a test for China-Japan restitution

Fresh calls involving Tokyo’s Imperial Palace could spell turning point for repatriating looted war relics after decades of inertia.

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Taiwan

Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?

Reform reflects shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for potential conflict with Beijing, Chinese analysts say.

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Mainland China

Japanese minister expresses regret over military officer’s arrest at Chinese embassy

Beijing says incident in which a man is accused of breaking in with a knife, reflects the growth of ‘rampant far-right ideology’ in Japan.

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Japan pledged to step up security at the embassy after the incident. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Why Beijing is blaming Japanese PM as Tokyo moves to downgrade China ties status

Tokyo’s annual diplomatic blue book set to describe China ties as ‘strategic’ and ‘mutually beneficial’, a step down from ‘most important’.

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Beijing says Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s “erroneous remarks on Taiwan” are at the root of their current tensions. Photo: AFP
Defence

Economic ‘poison’? China has strong words for Japan’s ‘Takaichinomics’ strategy

Communist Party newspaper cautions against tying economic growth to ‘militaristic adventurism’, saying Japan’s citizens would shoulder the costs.

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China’s military drills

New Type 055 destroyers for PLA East China Fleet tested in first live-fire drill

Exercise will ‘rapidly integrate’ the advanced vessels into the joint combat system covering Taiwan and the seas near Japan.

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Taiwan

China slams Japan’s ‘kill network’ as long-range missile deployment looms

PLA Daily describes upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles as offensive weapons capable of targeting neighbouring countries.

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A Japanese Type-12 surface-to-ship missile is launched by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force at Beecroft Weapons Range near Jervis Bay, Australia, on July 22, 2025. Photo: Australian Department of Defence via AP

Japanese ‘military officer’ forces way into Chinese embassy in Tokyo

Intruder threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the name of god, China’s foreign ministry says.

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Beijing and Tokyo have faced months of heightened tension since the Japanese prime minister linked a hypothetical Taiwan contingency with the possible deployment of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces. Photo: Shutterstock
China exports

China cuts some hi-tech metals sent to Japan – but magnet exports rise. Why?

Exports of gallium and germanium have slowed, yet rare earth magnet shipments have increased amid strained ties.

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Japan

Trump’s biggest cheerleader? Why Japan’s Takaichi is making waves in China

White House photo of Japanese prime minister apparently dancing to a band draws derision on Chinese social media.

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China trade

Premier Li Qiang calls for global pledge to open up amid ‘power politics’

Li’s opening address to China Development Forum indirectly rebukes US as he states protectionism is no ‘panacea’ for solving problems.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang is displayed on a large screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Sunday, March 22. Photo: AP
Japan

Trump to praise Japan in China, Xi summit delayed, PLA-Nato talks

This week: Trump praises Japan during Takaichi visit after delaying Xi summit, US-China trade talks conclude in Paris, China economy surpasses expectations. Next week: PLA delegation travels to Brussels, Hong Kong may issue first stablecoin licences, Art Basel opens in the city, and more.

China and Japan’s complicated ties in a turbulent 2026

China and Japan’s long-standing rivalry has deep historic roots, and relations between the two have taken a significant turn for the worse in recent months. This series dives into the complicated ties of the two Asian powers in a turbulent 2026.

2026 Trump-Xi summit

Open Questions | US ex-diplomat’s inside view on Trump-Xi summits

Former envoy in Beijing William Klein on US leader’s approach to foreign policy, tariffs, China weaponising rare earths and risks of Taiwan conflict.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Japan

‘Uncompromising’: Takaichi’s meeting with Trump seen as key to China-Japan ties

Neither Tokyo nor Beijing has enough incentive to compromise, observers say, signalling a new reality between Asian giants.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, pictured soon after being re-elected in February, has sought to cultivate a close relationship with US President Donald Trump amid Japan-China tension. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
Japan

Why Beijing has struggled to rally Asia against Japan over PM’s Taiwan remarks

Many in the region harbour security concerns similar to Tokyo’s and prefer to stay neutral between the Asian heavyweights, analysts say.

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China’s soft power

Why Japan thinks China’s growing cultural clout is something it needs to counter

The global success of Chinese video games and animation – as well as the appeal of traditional culture – has triggered a reaction in Tokyo.

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Taiwan

Why Japan’s Type-12 missile deployment may complicate China’s regional strategy

Analysts say it could be interpreted as crossing a ‘strategic threshold’ and reinforce Beijing’s suspicions about Tokyo’s Taiwan intentions.

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Japan’s upgraded Type-12 missile has a range of about 1,000km. Photo: AP
Taiwan

Swing and a miss? Taiwan’s premier under fire over baseball trip to Tokyo

Beijing has lashed out over Cho Jung-tai’s one-day visit to Japan, which was described as a ‘private itinerary’ to support the island’s team.

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Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai says his trip to Tokyo for the World Baseball Classic on March 7 was paid for out of his own pocket and had “no other purpose”. Photo: Facebook/Cho Jung-tai
China trade

Japan taps oil reserves as Iran war spreads. Could it give China leverage?

With Tokyo and Beijing still at loggerheads over Taiwan, analysts warn Japan’s decision exposes its economic vulnerability.

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China's military weapons

Open Questions | War on Iran may spark nuclear arms race, Carnegie scholar says

Zhao Tong says return to law of the jungle signalled by current US actions could spur countries without nuclear weapons to start acquiring them.

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