https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/269150/feed 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. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Carol Yang Carol Yang China has condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for sending a ritual offering to Tokyo’s war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, a move that threatens to further strain ties between the neighbours. At the start of Yasukuni’s three-day autumn festival on Saturday, Takaichi sent a ritual tree-stand offering to the shrine in her capacity as prime minister, although she did not visit in person. Minoru Kiuchi, minister in charge of economic growth strategy, visited the controversial site the same day,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371294/china-slams-japans-takaichi-over-yasukuni-ritual-offering-warns-remilitarisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371294/china-slams-japans-takaichi-over-yasukuni-ritual-offering-warns-remilitarisation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:58:01 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Beijing’s decision to allow a bigger Japanese business delegation to go to China next month may be cause for some optimism but “hot economics and cold politics” will continue to dominate the strained relationship between the two countries, observers say. Kyodo news agency reported this week that Beijing had agreed to allow the Japanese Business Federation – the country’s most influential business lobby, also known as Keidanren – to expand its delegation coming to China next month. The group will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371192/hot-economics-cold-politics-why-china-gave-nod-expanded-japanese-trade-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371192/hot-economics-cold-politics-why-china-gave-nod-expanded-japanese-trade-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japan is increasingly turning to foreign companies to accelerate its military modernisation, drawing on overseas technology, expertise and production capacity to plug defence gaps that could prove critical in a potential regional conflict involving China. The push has gathered momentum over the past week, with Tokyo confirming a contract for Ukrainian interceptor drones and a multinational fighter consortium preparing to expand its design operations in Japan. French defence giant Thales is also... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371170/japan-taps-foreign-tech-plug-defence-gaps-chinas-power-grows-will-it-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371170/japan-taps-foreign-tech-plug-defence-gaps-chinas-power-grows-will-it-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Japan’s hopes for a visit by Donald Trump during his trip to Asia next month may be hanging in the balance as relations between China and the United States steadily improve. The US president spent three days in Japan ahead of last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and his meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was hailed as a sign of a “new golden age” in the countries’ relationship. But since then Trump’s growing rapport with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has caused... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371045/why-japanese-pm-takaichi-still-keen-roll-out-welcome-mat-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371045/why-japanese-pm-takaichi-still-keen-roll-out-welcome-mat-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen A business delegation from northeastern China has visited a Russian-controlled, Japanese-claimed island off Hokkaido to explore joint economic projects, prompting protests from Tokyo. Officials and business leaders from Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia’s far east, travelled to Etorofu – known to Russians as Iturup – to survey potential investment opportunities, according to the Sakhalin Oblast government, which oversees the island. Etorofu is the largest island in a disputed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370854/chinese-business-visit-kuril-islands-will-do-nothing-ease-tensions-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370854/chinese-business-visit-kuril-islands-will-do-nothing-ease-tensions-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:59:25 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Kurt Campbell is a veteran US diplomat and strategist who has played a leading role in shaping Washington’s approach to China and the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. He served as the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs from 2021 to 2024 and as US deputy secretary of state from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 and was a key architect of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia”. Often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370485/kurt-campbell-us-deterrence-quad-aukus-and-taiwan-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370485/kurt-campbell-us-deterrence-quad-aukus-and-taiwan-after-xi-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Kurt Campbell is a veteran US diplomat and strategist who has played a leading role in shaping Washington’s approach to China and the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. He served as the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs from 2021 to 2024 and as US deputy secretary of state from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 and was a key architect of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia”. Often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370379/kurt-campbell-us-china-focus-indo-pacific-quad-risks-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370379/kurt-campbell-us-china-focus-indo-pacific-quad-risks-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:01:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japan and the United States will rehearse moving anti-ship missiles, air defences and communications networks onto islands near Taiwan this month in an expanded military exercise that analysts say could complicate Beijing’s planning for a Taiwan or East China Sea conflict. Keen Sword 27, which runs from October 19 to 29, will involve about 45,000 Japanese personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 ships and 260 aircraft, up from about 33,000 personnel, 30 ships and 250 aircraft in 2024. About 12,000 US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370210/how-expanded-japan-us-military-exercises-could-complicate-pla-planning-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370210/how-expanded-japan-us-military-exercises-could-complicate-pla-planning-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:16 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump pressed Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during last month’s summit to end a deep freeze in relations with Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, the South China Morning Post reported. Trump raised Japan’s grievances over Chinese restrictions imposed following Takaichi’s comment in November that the Japanese military might intervene in the event of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, according to Thursday’s report, which cited people familiar with the discussions. Beijing regards Taiwan as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370186/trump-pushed-xi-end-japan-freeze-chinese-leader-unmoved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370186/trump-pushed-xi-end-japan-freeze-chinese-leader-unmoved?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:11:27 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim US President Donald Trump pressed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to roll back China’s export curbs on Japan during their meeting in the US, urging talks between the Chinese and Japanese leaders as Tokyo seeks to manage mounting pressure from Beijing. People familiar with the discussions told the South China Morning Post that Xi also warned Trump about the growing risks of Japanese militarism during their sit-down in Washington last month. According to the people, while the issue was not one... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370064/trump-urged-xi-talk-takaichi-and-lift-export-curbs-japan-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370064/trump-urged-xi-talk-takaichi-and-lift-export-curbs-japan-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei For American and Chinese people interested in the outcome of the latest summit between China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, their conclusions could not be more different if they turn to the media and pundits for guidance. Chinese state media spared no superlative, echoing the official description of the summit as: forging the right way for the major powers to get along and writing a new chapter in ties. It played up the fact that Trump gave Xi the highest-level reception... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The US is set to deploy one of its signature anti-ship missile systems to the Japanese island closest to Taiwan, an unprecedented move that comes as tensions in the region between Beijing and Tokyo continue to simmer. The ground-based US uncrewed missile platform known as the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) will be deployed on Yonaguni Island in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture during biennial joint exercises this month, according to the regional bureau of the Japanese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369666/us-deploy-nmesis-anti-ship-system-japanese-island-closest-taiwan-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369666/us-deploy-nmesis-anti-ship-system-japanese-island-closest-taiwan-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:45:24 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The number of Japanese companies operating in China has fallen nearly 30 per cent since its peak in 2012 and is down 22 per cent over the past two years, according to a survey conducted amid prolonged political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. As of June, 10,118 Japanese enterprises were identified as having a presence in China, the lowest number since 2010, according to a survey and analysis released on Monday by the corporate credit research and business intelligence firm Teikoku... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369164/japanese-firms-pull-back-china-amid-geopolitical-tensions-supply-chains-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369164/japanese-firms-pull-back-china-amid-geopolitical-tensions-supply-chains-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:00:13 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Vice-Premier He Lifeng met Japan’s former foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing, marking the highest-ranking Chinese official reception for a Japanese visit in nearly a year. Analysts, however, cautioned that the high-level reception should not be seen as an opening to a diplomatic thaw. Instead, they viewed the encounter as a calculated exercise by Beijing in selective engagement. Iwaya arrived in the Chinese capital on Sunday at the head of a 50-member... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369154/china-warns-japan-over-wwii-history-business-delegation-visits-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369154/china-warns-japan-over-wwii-history-business-delegation-visits-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo A video installation built around the testimony of a former Japanese soldier on the killing of civilians and sexual assault in wartime China will go on display in London in October, even as its creator struggles to find a museum willing to exhibit the award-winning work in Japan. Created by contemporary artist Meiro Koizumi, “The Angels of Testimony”, has won acclaim overseas, but Japanese museums have been reluctant to exhibit the work, which confronts memories of violence committed by Japanese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368928/japanese-museums-shun-video-artwork-wartime-atrocities-acclaimed-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368928/japanese-museums-shun-video-artwork-wartime-atrocities-acclaimed-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 03:03:08 +0000 Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin,Josephine Ma Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin,Josephine Ma In a surprise nod to shared history, US President Donald Trump called China a World War II ally as he welcomed Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday ahead of summit talks. But the historical reference was far from one-sided, with both leaders repeatedly referring to the joint fight against Japanese aggression as they sought to emphasise the long history of US-China friendship and the need to seek common ground. “If we focus on our common interests, I’m confident there is much we can... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368844/trump-hails-wwii-ally-china-xi-tells-bonds-forged-blood-and-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368844/trump-hails-wwii-ally-china-xi-tells-bonds-forged-blood-and-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:06:23 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Starkly contrasting receptions for the Japanese leader and the Chinese president in the United States have sparked debate over Washington’s treatment of Tokyo as an ally. Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York at the start of the working week, beginning a trip where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as the country’s prime minister. A photo taken on her arrival shows her waving across a relatively empty tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Footage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:20:23 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma The United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to resist “economic coercion” and emphasised the need for stability in the Taiwan Strait, taking an implicit shot at China just days before President Xi Jinping’s White House summit. The three countries plan new talks on economic security and enhancements to a trilateral supply chain early warning system, according to a statement issued after a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and counterparts Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan and Cho... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368381/us-tightens-japan-south-korea-ties-ahead-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368381/us-tightens-japan-south-korea-ties-ahead-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:07:00 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets US President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, the leader casting the longest shadow over the meeting will not even be in the building. Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Thursday – two days after Takaichi meets the US leader on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It will be Xi’s first state visit to the US in over 10 years. Faced with an unpredictable American president eager for tangible results... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368288/shadow-xi-summit-hangs-over-trumps-high-stakes-talks-japans-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368288/shadow-xi-summit-hangs-over-trumps-high-stakes-talks-japans-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado The United States, Japan and South Korea announced a new economic-security consultation and reinforced their support for stability across the Taiwan Strait on Monday, sending a coordinated message on two of Beijing’s most sensitive issues just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s summit with US President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun unveiled the initiative after meeting on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368306/us-japan-and-south-korea-launch-economic-security-talks-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368306/us-japan-and-south-korea-launch-economic-security-talks-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:22:31 +0000 Albee Zhang,Amber Wang,Alcott Wei Albee Zhang,Amber Wang,Alcott Wei Chinese panellists and experts at the Xiangshan Forum have warned against Japan’s remilitarisation amid reports that Tokyo is considering raising its midterm defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. Japan might raise its midterm budget to 3-3.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product in line with Nato and other US allies, Bloomberg reported earlier this week, as the US pushes its allies in Asia and Europe to boost their own defences. At the three-day defence gathering in Beijing on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367883/warning-against-japans-military-build-surfaces-beijing-xiangshan-conference?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367883/warning-against-japans-military-build-surfaces-beijing-xiangshan-conference?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:10:43 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Japan’s proposed port upgrades in Indonesia’s Natuna Islands reflect Tokyo’s push to bolster South China Sea security without building an overt military footprint. However, analysts stress that the move does not mean Jakarta is siding with Japan in its efforts to contain Beijing. Japan, which earlier this year eased its restrictions on lethal weapons exports, is ramping up security cooperation with Indonesia – a crucial bellwether for Southeast Asia. The expanding partnership includes joint... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367757/japans-natuna-port-proposal-highlights-indonesias-balancing-act-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367757/japans-natuna-port-proposal-highlights-indonesias-balancing-act-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The leadership change in Okinawa could deal a quiet blow to Beijing’s attempts to leverage local opposition to remilitarisation and the US-Japan military alliance, according to analysts. They added that the shift would compel Chinese academics and state media to recalibrate their messaging and approach towards the strategically vital Japanese prefecture. Genta Koja, the 42-year-old backed by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party to become Okinawa’s new governor, defeated incumbent Denny Tamaki... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367628/how-will-okinawa-governors-race-result-reshape-chinas-local-messaging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367628/how-will-okinawa-governors-race-result-reshape-chinas-local-messaging?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Okinawa’s election on Sunday of a governor backed by Japan’s ruling party ended 12 years of local leadership opposed to the relocation of a US airbase and elements of Tokyo’s defence build-up plans. While experts say that Genta Koja’s victory will not give Tokyo any new military authority in the region, it could lead to closer integration of civilian infrastructure into Japan’s defence network in case of a conflict – including one over Taiwan. Koja’s election would give Tokyo “room to expand its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367624/how-okinawas-political-shift-could-make-japan-more-prepared-taiwan-contingency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367624/how-okinawas-political-shift-could-make-japan-more-prepared-taiwan-contingency?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:00:20 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen With bilateral ties in a deep freeze since late last year, a flurry of planned China visits by Japanese lawmakers and business leaders has been interpreted as an attempt to break the ice ahead of November’s Apec summit in China. However, analysts warned that these efforts to carve out a diplomatic opening with Beijing might not achieve much unless Tokyo sends a clearer signal to mend ties from the very top. Relations reached their lowest point in a decade following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367497/japanese-delegations-flock-china-thaw-hinges-takaichi-mending-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367497/japanese-delegations-flock-china-thaw-hinges-takaichi-mending-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japan is looking to develop submarine-detecting quantum sensors for aerial drones, the latest move in a growing undersea competition pitting China against the United States and its allies across the Indo-Pacific. Released in late August, Tokyo’s defence budget request for fiscal 2027 includes research into a smaller, more capable quantum magnetic sensor, a technology that uses the properties of atoms to detect tiny changes in magnetic fields that could reveal a submarine. The project is one of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367476/japan-eyes-quantum-sub-hunting-drone-sensors-china-extends-undersea-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367476/japan-eyes-quantum-sub-hunting-drone-sensors-china-extends-undersea-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:48:01 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese fashion brand WEGO has scrapped a plan to launch a new range in collaboration with the hit anime and manga franchise My Hero Academia after it triggered an angry backlash from Chinese consumers. The Tokyo-based company triggered an outcry on Chinese social media after announcing it would release an exclusive range of My Hero Academia-themed clothing. The franchise was widely condemned in China over a 2020 controversy about a character that conducted lethal human experiments – a topic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367353/japans-wego-fashion-brand-latest-firm-feel-force-chinese-consumer-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367353/japans-wego-fashion-brand-latest-firm-feel-force-chinese-consumer-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:55:06 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Japan’s plan to develop tactical satellites equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) would boost its long-range offensive strike capabilities and pose a serious threat, Chinese state media has warned. The Japanese Nikkei newspaper reported last week that the planned AI-equipped satellites would be capable of analysing surveillance intelligence in space. The aim is to speed up targeting decisions and strengthen the country’s “counterstrike capability”, such as missile guidance. According to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367060/japans-ai-satellites-and-other-space-ambitions-serious-threat-china-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367060/japans-ai-satellites-and-other-space-ambitions-serious-threat-china-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The risk of a conflict over Taiwan is shaping Japanese defence planning, with Tokyo shoring up security at home and abroad for a potentially prolonged fight. But there are economic, demographic and political constraints on how far its military transformation can go. In the third of a three-part series, Gabriel Dominguez examines the various challenges confronting Japan in its bid to expand its military. Driven by the growing risk that a conflict over Taiwan could draw Tokyo into a high-intensity... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366923/japans-china-facing-military-build-confronts-labour-budget-and-political-limits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366923/japans-china-facing-military-build-confronts-labour-budget-and-political-limits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The risk of a conflict over Taiwan is shaping Japanese defence planning, with Tokyo shoring up security at home and abroad for a potentially prolonged fight. But there are economic, demographic and political constraints on how far its military transformation can go. In the second of a three-part series, Gabriel Dominguez examines how Tokyo is building military resilience within its territory. Japan’s recent purchase of a former Nippon Steel site to build a sprawling new defence hub points to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366766/how-japan-digging-deter-and-withstand-conflict-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366766/how-japan-digging-deter-and-withstand-conflict-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:00:06 +0000 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/series/3366765/inside-japans-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/series/3366765/inside-japans-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:59:38 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The risk of a conflict over Taiwan is shaping Japanese defence planning, with Tokyo shoring up security at home and abroad for a potentially prolonged fight. But there are economic, demographic and political constraints on how far its military transformation can go. In the first of a three-part series, Gabriel Dominguez examines how Japan is building a network of partnerships to strengthen its strategic endurance. Japan is rapidly building a web of defence partnerships spanning the Indo-Pacific... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366646/how-tokyo-widening-regional-defence-ties-complicate-beijings-taiwan-calculus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366646/how-tokyo-widening-regional-defence-ties-complicate-beijings-taiwan-calculus?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China will impose provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 99.2 per cent on Japanese dichlorosilane, a critical chemical used in chipmaking, after an eight-month investigation found that dumped imports had harmed local manufacturers. The Ministry of Commerce announced the preliminary ruling on Monday, saying importers of dichlorosilane originating from Japan would be required to pay corresponding cash deposits from Tuesday. Shipments from Denal Silane, a manufacturer of semiconductor speciality... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366661/china-hits-critical-japanese-chipmaking-chemical-steep-anti-dumping-measures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3366661/china-hits-critical-japanese-chipmaking-chemical-steep-anti-dumping-measures?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:27:28 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing said it conducted a routine patrol in waters east of Taiwan on Thursday, the latest in weeks of ramped-up activity by coastguard and other vessels that has alarmed the island. China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said a formation led by the Putuoshan vessel carried out a “law enforcement” patrol “in accordance with the law”. He said the formation had strengthened control over the waters since last month, safeguarding the rights and interests of Chinese citizens. “The China Coast Guard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366189/beijing-sends-coastguard-conduct-law-enforcement-patrol-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366189/beijing-sends-coastguard-conduct-law-enforcement-patrol-near-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:03:54 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japan’s plans to transfer ageing warships to the Philippines and Indonesia could turn older military hardware into geopolitical leverage, deepening regional security ties while helping Tokyo counterbalance Beijing’s growing influence, observers say. Such transfers, they said, fit into Tokyo’s broader security assistance toolkit to strengthen partners’ capabilities and forge longer-term defence relationships through equipment, training, maintenance and interoperability – expanding Japan’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366100/how-japan-aims-convert-ageing-warships-leverage-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366100/how-japan-aims-convert-ageing-warships-leverage-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez In its latest swipe at Tokyo’s military build-up, China singled out Japan’s plans to arm its submarine drones with long-range missiles and test hypersonic weapons in Australia. Analysts say those moves could threaten People’s Liberation Army amphibious groups and surface combatants within the “first island chain” – potentially affecting the PLA Navy’s ability to operate in the event of a Taiwan conflict. The strategically important first island chain stretches from Japan to Taiwan, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365803/why-japans-hypersonic-and-underwater-weapon-plans-might-worry-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365803/why-japans-hypersonic-and-underwater-weapon-plans-might-worry-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Japan plans to deploy fighter jets in India for the first time next month, a decision experts say reflects Tokyo’s desire to strengthen security cooperation with “like-minded” countries in the Indo-Pacific region as it ramps up defence spending in response to China’s growing military power. According to a Japan Air Self-Defence Force announcement on Tuesday, Tokyo will conduct a joint training exercise, Veer Guardian 26, with the Indian Air Force between September 9 and 21 in Rajasthan in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365697/what-japans-coming-fighter-jet-deployment-india-means-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365697/what-japans-coming-fighter-jet-deployment-india-means-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Tokyo is experimenting with a radically faster way of buying new weapons – picking a domestically built interceptor drone less than three months after launching the procurement process. Analysts say this shift could help Japan respond more quickly to China’s expanding military capabilities. The defence ministry’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced on Tuesday that it had signed a contract to buy Terra Drone’s Terra B1 system following competitive trials. The decision... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365345/japan-fast-tracks-anti-drone-system-amid-chinas-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365345/japan-fast-tracks-anti-drone-system-amid-chinas-military-build?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez,Albee Zhang Gabriel Dominguez,Albee Zhang Mainland Chinese government vessel sightings around Taiwan have reached record levels for a third straight month, as Beijing expands its law enforcement footprint east of the island following the announcement in late May of Tokyo-Manila maritime boundary talks over the area. Taiwan’s defence ministry said that in the first 24 days of August it detected mainland coastguard, survey and other official vessels a total of 118 times, surpassing the 117 reported in July and 111 in June. Those numbers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365081/mainland-chinas-ship-activity-near-taiwan-hits-record-third-month-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365081/mainland-chinas-ship-activity-near-taiwan-hits-record-third-month-row?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang China-based Korean independence leader Sin Kyu-sik was the real mastermind behind his country’s provisional government in exile, according to new research that promotes him to a main player in the resistance against Japan’s occupation. The research was presented at a symposium in Seoul co-hosted by Gwangbokhoe, the official association for those who fought against Japan’s occupation. The academic exchange, which was backed by South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, underscored... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364805/research-boosts-south-korean-chinese-links-wwii-resistance-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364805/research-boosts-south-korean-chinese-links-wwii-resistance-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s exports of strategic minerals to the United States and Japan diverged in July, with US-bound shipments showing signs of improvement while supplies of key materials to Japan tumbled. US-bound shipments of rare earth permanent magnets rose 4.6 per cent year on year and 32.6 per cent month on month in July, while exports of other rare earth oxides jumped 56.8 per cent from a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data. Some smaller categories surged from low bases, including industrial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364810/china-strategic-mineral-exports-us-rise-japan-shipments-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3364810/china-strategic-mineral-exports-us-rise-japan-shipments-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:44:20 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang A reported trip to China next week by a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers could carry “pronounced” symbolic weight but is unlikely to herald a thaw in ties between the two neighbours, Chinese experts suggest. For the first time since bilateral relations succumbed to a bitter chill 10 months ago, a delegation of Japan’s parliamentary members will visit Beijing from August 24 to 27, according to reports by multiple Japanese outlets on Wednesday. Those legislators – including some from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364723/japan-lawmakers-visit-china-bid-cool-row-thaw-unlikely-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364723/japan-lawmakers-visit-china-bid-cool-row-thaw-unlikely-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Sherry Wang Sherry Wang Mainland Chinese tourist arrivals in Japan fell for an eighth consecutive month in July, as group tours slumped and visa costs rose amid deteriorating ties between Beijing and Tokyo. Mainland China has traditionally been a major source of visitors for Japan, but tourist arrivals plunged 56.1 per cent year on year in July, extending a downward trend that began in December 2025, according to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) on Wednesday. Overall foreign arrivals to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364664/travel-warnings-visa-fees-why-chinese-tourism-japan-free-fall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3364664/travel-warnings-visa-fees-why-chinese-tourism-japan-free-fall?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:21 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China has “strongly condemned” Japanese leaders for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and making an offering on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s announcement of surrender in World War II. Beijing said it had lodged a formal protest after Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi and others visited the shrine on Saturday. China and many other Asian countries view the site as a symbol of Japanese militarism. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit in person but she sent a ritual... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364135/china-blasts-japanese-officials-visit-yasukuni-shrine-wwii-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364135/china-blasts-japanese-officials-visit-yasukuni-shrine-wwii-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:48 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen China has approved a new Japanese acting consul general in Chongqing, ending an eight-month vacancy at the mission following a bilateral freeze. Shigehiro Nishiumi, who previously served as Japan’s deputy consul general in Hong Kong, assumed the post at the diplomatic mission in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing on August 4, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing an unnamed government source. The Chongqing post had remained unoccupied since December 5, when former head of mission... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363802/china-approves-japanese-envoy-chongqing-ending-8-month-vacancy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363802/china-approves-japanese-envoy-chongqing-ending-8-month-vacancy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:18:13 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has detained several Japanese nationals, including top executives of companies with offices in China, for allegedly violating export restrictions on dual-use goods, Japanese newspaper The Mainichi said, citing multiple sources. Dual-use items comprise goods, software and technologies with both civilian and military applications, including critical minerals essential for manufacturing drones and advanced semiconductors. The detentions follow a string of enforcement measures, including the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363648/china-detains-japanese-executives-dual-use-technology-export-probe-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363648/china-detains-japanese-executives-dual-use-technology-export-probe-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japan’s latest defence white paper’s emphasis on adaptivity and scale of drones signals its intention to seek asymmetric capabilities against China in the event of a conflict, while drawing lessons from Ukraine, according to experts. The 610-page document released on Tuesday highlights the need to integrate unmanned systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies across the Japan Self-Defence Forces as Tokyo confronts an increasingly complex security environment. While... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363287/japan-eyeing-ukraine-style-asymmetric-warfare-against-china-defence-shift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363287/japan-eyeing-ukraine-style-asymmetric-warfare-against-china-defence-shift?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:01:43 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang No longer confined to disputed islands or historical memory, the rivalry between Beijing and Tokyo has evolved into a fight for the global microphone, as both countries try to define each other’s international identity. Amid an escalating diplomatic crisis, China is intensifying its rhetoric against what it calls Japan’s “new militarism”, using World War II-era history to rally regional and global sympathy for its position. In stark contrast, Japan has rejected the label as “false claims”,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363175/china-vs-japan-battle-global-microphone-reshape-post-war-identity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363175/china-vs-japan-battle-global-microphone-reshape-post-war-identity?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 01:00:07 +0000 Liu Zhen,Gabriel Dominguez Liu Zhen,Gabriel Dominguez Chinese state television has broadcast rare footage apparently showing the US Air Force’s Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan as a target of the PLA’s missile force. During an episode of the CCTV documentary Securing Victory on Monday, a satellite image of an airbase was seen in the background as People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force officers discussed an exercise and combat scenarios. The image – which was slightly out of focus – showed an airfield surrounded by urban development. The layout of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363170/has-chinas-missile-force-got-americas-kadena-base-japan-its-sights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363170/has-chinas-missile-force-got-americas-kadena-base-japan-its-sights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China and Russia are becoming more ambitious in their military cooperation, with a joint patrol around Japan sending a message to Tokyo and the United States, according to analysts. Three Chinese naval vessels and a Russian Navy corvette left Qingdao in China on July 13, passing through the western Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, as part of a 17-day joint patrol. Then on Sunday and Monday, three Chinese naval vessels – Type 055 and Type 052D... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363143/their-warships-encircle-japan-what-signals-are-china-and-russia-sending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363143/their-warships-encircle-japan-what-signals-are-china-and-russia-sending?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:41:13 +0000