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Sanae Takaichi

(高市早苗)

Sanae Takaichi

高市早苗

The latest news and top stories on Sanae Takaichi. A long-serving member of the Japanese House of Representatives, she has held numerous significant cabinet roles. Her past positions include Minister of State for Economic Security, Internal Affairs and Communications, Science and Technology Policy, and Youth Affairs and Gender Equality. Known for her staunch conservative views and close alliance with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi has focused on strengthening Japan’s economic security, cybersecurity and national defence. She has also chaired the LDP’s Policy Research Council and recently led a commission on public safety and cybercrime. Takaichi has twice contended for the LDP leadership.

Japan

Russian hypersonic jets buzz Japan’s coast in ‘thinly veiled threat’

The exercises send a message that Tokyo should avoid antagonising Moscow or risk ‘repercussions’, observers say.

5 minutes ago

China-Japan relations

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

19 Mar 2026 - 8:16AMvideocam

US-China relations

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

19 Mar 2026 - 8:01AMvideocam

US-China relations

Why delayed US-China summit raises stakes for Takaichi ahead of White House visit

Analysts say the combination of the Iran war and the new date for Trump’s trip to Beijing could put Japan’s leader on the defensive.

18 Mar 2026 - 4:41PMvideocam

Can US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi maintain the rapport of their meeting in Japan last October? Photo: Kyodo

Singapore

Singapore’s Lawrence Wong seeks stronger ties with Japan amid global tensions

Wong and Takaichi are expected to discuss economic stability and AI, and tread cautiously amid superpower rivalries, analysts say.

17 Mar 2026 - 11:15PM

Japan

‘Poor’ foreigners not welcome? Japan bets on AI while upping visa fee

Critics say the fee rise is designed to keep ‘poor’ foreigners out, as Japan bets on AI and robots to plug its growing staffing shortfall.

17 Mar 2026 - 12:58PM

Japan

Japan identifies 1,500 new missile shelters as ‘front line’ fears grow

Underground car parks and subways are being repurposed as Tokyo warns of the most severe security threat since the second world war.

17 Mar 2026 - 3:13PM

Japan has confirmed 1,489 sites – including subway stations and underground car parks – as being suitable for providing short-term protection in the event of an attack. Photo: Shutterstock

South Korea

‘Catch-22 situation’: South Korea walks tightrope over Trump’s Hormuz call

Seoul is expected to seek national consensus and wait for the outcome of the Takaichi-Trump summit before deciding, observers say.

17 Mar 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

Japan

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?

The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.

16 Mar 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

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.

15 Mar 2026 - 8:45PM

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

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.

13 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Japan

In Japan, video of exhausted Takaichi sparks health fears ahead of US trip

The prime minister is expected to announce Tokyo’s participation in the US’ ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system when she meets Trump.

13 Mar 2026 - 3:21PM

Germany

Germany, Japan to unblock oil reserves as G7 stands ‘ready’ to act

The latest announcement came as G7 leaders were set to discuss the widespread economic fallout from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

11 Mar 2026 - 8:29PMvideocam

Japan

Japan to release oil reserves as early as Monday

It will release 15 days’ worth of private reserves and a month’s worth of national reserves.

11 Mar 2026 - 8:15PMvideocam

A woman walks past a petrol station in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

Japan

Japan struggles with rising maintenance costs 15 years after Fukushima disaster

The costs of maintaining public housing for disaster victims and sea walls in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima total over US$923.7 million.

11 Mar 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

People offer prayers and light candles during a memorial in front of Futaba Station on Tuesday ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Jiji Press/EPA

US-China relations

From ‘love and hate’ to nationalism, can Xi and Trump rebalance ties?

Chinese scholars say the US-China relationship has changed, and there’s a chance for the two powers to steer away from confrontation.

11 Mar 2026 - 12:58AMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

Editorial | High-level US-China dialogue is good for global stability

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has suggested the Trump-Xi summit is still on track and Beijing’s commitment to diplomacy is clear in budget allocations.

10 Mar 2026 - 7:15AM

US, Israel war on Iran

G7 to discuss possible emergency release of oil reserves: French president

Concern is rising about the war and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s energy supplies pass.

9 Mar 2026 - 8:27PMvideocam

Cars line up at a gas station in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday as oil prices surge due to the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Photo: EPA

US-China relations

Taiwan tensions No 1 in Beijing’s top 10 geopolitical risks of 2026: think tank

Most consequential external security variable may be uncertainty in the US ahead of the midterm elections in November, report warns.

9 Mar 2026 - 3:42PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

Wang Yi warns Japan on Taiwan ‘red line’, dashing hopes of ending diplomatic row

Invoking the legacy of WWII resistance, top diplomat cautions Tokyo against interfering in China’s affairs.

8 Mar 2026 - 7:51PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

Takeaways from Foreign Minister Wang Yi at China’s ‘two sessions’

Opinion | Japan’s rightward shift puts it on a collision course with China

Any attempt by the Takaichi administration to revise the constitution and re-arm the country will ignite fierce opposition from Beijing.

2 Mar 2026 - 9:08AMvideocam

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers questions during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on February 24. Photo: AFP

China's military weapons

What will first Type 055 destroyers for PLA East China Fleet mean for Taiwan?

Two of the guided-missile destroyers with hull numbers assigned have been spotted at a naval base on the East China Sea coast.

1 Mar 2026 - 8:00PM

Japan

Macroscope | Why Japan should push back on Trump’s investment demands

Trump’s use of tariff threats to strong-arm foreign governments, companies and investors into funding US projects should be resisted.

28 Feb 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

Japan

Japan’s PM revives push to criminalise defacing national flag

It is already a crime to damage a foreign flag in Japan. Now, emboldened by a massive election win, the PM wants to protect her own.

26 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi defends US$190 election gifts to ruling party lawmakers

The revelation that 315 MPs were asked to pick items from a gift catalogue evokes a slush-fund scandal that engulfed the party in 2023.

25 Feb 2026 - 1:40PMvideocam

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a House of Representatives plenary session to answer questions from opposition leaders on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Singapore

Singapore prime minister attacked by hundreds of Chinese-language fake AI videos

The videos targeting Lawrence Wong spread false narratives about his leadership being under threat and political infighting in Singapore.

25 Feb 2026 - 9:31AMvideocam

Performing arts in Hong Kong

Review | Trump is abducted by aliens and has Chinese ‘twin’ in chaotic Cantonese opera

Showing in Hong Kong, Trump on Show 4.0 combines political satire and surreal Sino-US commentary but feels like a ‘paper tiger’ with no bite.

24 Feb 2026 - 6:15PM

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Sanae Takaichi

(高市早苗)

Russian hypersonic jets buzz Japan’s coast in ‘thinly veiled threat’

The exercises send a message that Tokyo should avoid antagonising Moscow or risk ‘repercussions’, observers say.

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

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

Why delayed US-China summit raises stakes for Takaichi ahead of White House visit

Analysts say the combination of the Iran war and the new date for Trump’s trip to Beijing could put Japan’s leader on the defensive.

Singapore’s Lawrence Wong seeks stronger ties with Japan amid global tensions

Wong and Takaichi are expected to discuss economic stability and AI, and tread cautiously amid superpower rivalries, analysts say.

‘Poor’ foreigners not welcome? Japan bets on AI while upping visa fee

Critics say the fee rise is designed to keep ‘poor’ foreigners out, as Japan bets on AI and robots to plug its growing staffing shortfall.

Japan identifies 1,500 new missile shelters as ‘front line’ fears grow

Underground car parks and subways are being repurposed as Tokyo warns of the most severe security threat since the second world war.

‘Catch-22 situation’: South Korea walks tightrope over Trump’s Hormuz call

Seoul is expected to seek national consensus and wait for the outcome of the Takaichi-Trump summit before deciding, observers say.

Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?

The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.

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.

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.

In Japan, video of exhausted Takaichi sparks health fears ahead of US trip

The prime minister is expected to announce Tokyo’s participation in the US’ ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system when she meets Trump.

Germany, Japan to unblock oil reserves as G7 stands ‘ready’ to act

The latest announcement came as G7 leaders were set to discuss the widespread economic fallout from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Japan to release oil reserves as early as Monday

It will release 15 days’ worth of private reserves and a month’s worth of national reserves.

Japan struggles with rising maintenance costs 15 years after Fukushima disaster

The costs of maintaining public housing for disaster victims and sea walls in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima total over US$923.7 million.

From ‘love and hate’ to nationalism, can Xi and Trump rebalance ties?

Chinese scholars say the US-China relationship has changed, and there’s a chance for the two powers to steer away from confrontation.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | High-level US-China dialogue is good for global stability

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has suggested the Trump-Xi summit is still on track and Beijing’s commitment to diplomacy is clear in budget allocations.

G7 to discuss possible emergency release of oil reserves: French president

Concern is rising about the war and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s energy supplies pass.

Taiwan tensions No 1 in Beijing’s top 10 geopolitical risks of 2026: think tank

Most consequential external security variable may be uncertainty in the US ahead of the midterm elections in November, report warns.

Wang Yi warns Japan on Taiwan ‘red line’, dashing hopes of ending diplomatic row

Invoking the legacy of WWII resistance, top diplomat cautions Tokyo against interfering in China’s affairs.

Takeaways from Foreign Minister Wang Yi at China’s ‘two sessions’

Top diplomat addresses questions on US ties, the Iran crisis, South China Sea disputes and Beijing’s vision for a multipolar world order.

Opinion | Japan’s rightward shift puts it on a collision course with China

Any attempt by the Takaichi administration to revise the constitution and re-arm the country will ignite fierce opposition from Beijing.

What will first Type 055 destroyers for PLA East China Fleet mean for Taiwan?

Two of the guided-missile destroyers with hull numbers assigned have been spotted at a naval base on the East China Sea coast.

Macroscope | Why Japan should push back on Trump’s investment demands

Trump’s use of tariff threats to strong-arm foreign governments, companies and investors into funding US projects should be resisted.

Japan’s PM revives push to criminalise defacing national flag

It is already a crime to damage a foreign flag in Japan. Now, emboldened by a massive election win, the PM wants to protect her own.

Japan’s Takaichi defends US$190 election gifts to ruling party lawmakers

The revelation that 315 MPs were asked to pick items from a gift catalogue evokes a slush-fund scandal that engulfed the party in 2023.

Singapore prime minister attacked by hundreds of Chinese-language fake AI videos

The videos targeting Lawrence Wong spread false narratives about his leadership being under threat and political infighting in Singapore.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Review | Trump is abducted by aliens and has Chinese ‘twin’ in chaotic Cantonese opera

Showing in Hong Kong, Trump on Show 4.0 combines political satire and surreal Sino-US commentary but feels like a ‘paper tiger’ with no bite.

Editorial | High-level US-China dialogue is good for global stability

Review | Trump is abducted by aliens and has Chinese ‘twin’ in chaotic Cantonese opera