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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.

US President Donald Trump walks on the red carpet after greeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews, in the US state of Maryland on September 23. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summits

From Taiwan to Takaichi, the geopolitical fallout from Xi-Trump summit

From structural rifts between US and China to debate over Washington’s treatment of ally Japan, some highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

4 hours ago

China-Japan relations

Japanese business presence in China down nearly 30% from peak in 2012: survey

29 Sep 2026 - 5:21PM

China-Japan relations

China’s Wang Yi delivers high-level warning to Japanese business delegation

29 Sep 2026 - 9:32PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump, Takaichi reaffirm US-Japan ties in phone call after Xi state visit

They exchanged views on various issues surrounding China, Japanese leader’s post says, after World War II references spark concern in Tokyo.

26 Sep 2026 - 11:55PMvideocam

Japan

Japan says Trump voiced concern over weak yen in summit with PM Takaichi

The weak yen is driving up energy import costs that are already high due to the Iran war, fuelling concerns about an inflation overshoot.

25 Sep 2026 - 11:52PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump hails WWII ‘ally’ China as Xi tells of bonds ‘forged in blood and fire’

Both leaders repeatedly refer to joint fight against Japan in highlighting history of cooperation and need for common ground.

25 Sep 2026 - 10:05PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi’s US welcome highlights lack of reception for Takaichi

Online comparisons of the two leaders’ arrivals in the US this week have raised questions over how Washington treats its Tokyo ally.

24 Sep 2026 - 8:20PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi waves before leaving Tokyo’s Haneda Airport aboard a government plane on September 21, on her way to the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: Kyodo

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump praises Takaichi for doing ‘tremendous job’ ahead of Xi’s visit to US

Two leaders hail their good working relationship, with Sanae Takaichi saying the United States and Japan can look forward to deepening ties.

23 Sep 2026 - 4:23PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

US tightens Japan, South Korea ties ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in Washington, the US underscored relations with Japan and South Korea.

22 Sep 2026 - 5:07PM

US-China relations

Shadow of Xi summit hangs over Trump’s high-stakes talks with Japan’s Takaichi

Tokyo is determined to ensure its vital interests are not traded away when US and Chinese leaders meet later this week, analysts say.

22 Sep 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Japan

Russia targets ‘unfriendly nations’ as asset seizures spook Japanese firms

The takeover of Swiss and French brands raises the spectre of retaliation against some 230 Japanese businesses still in Russia.

22 Sep 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

Customers shop at an Auchan supermarket in Moscow earlier this year. French retailer Auchan was among the Western brands whose assets were seized by the Kremlin last week. Photo: AFP

China exports

China’s trade limits continue to bite into Japan’s rare earth imports

Rare earth magnet imports fall 17 per cent, following a 52 per cent plunge in July, amid deteriorating ties between Beijing and Tokyo.

20 Sep 2026 - 5:30PM

Bonds

How will Japan’s rate increase affect capital flow in global financial markets?

Tokyo’s bond yields are seeing multi-decade highs as Bank of Japan boosts borrowing cost to three-decade high.

18 Sep 2026 - 5:25PM

China-Japan relations

Warning against Japan’s military build-up surfaces at Beijing security conference

Chinese scholars say Tokyo’s security expansion and US ties could trigger regional instability.

17 Sep 2026 - 8:10PMvideocam

Chinese scholars at the Xiangshan Forum link Japan's defence budget in part to US expectations but they say "domestic conservative forces" and anti-China sentiment also play a part. Photo: AFP

Banking & finance

Macroscope | Who’s in control of Japanese monetary policy? Tokyo or Washington?

Bessent’s intervention could have adverse implications for Japan’s economy, the BOJ’s credibility and tech-heavy stock markets in Asia.

17 Sep 2026 - 4:30PM

Japan

Is Japan’s Okinawa finally moving on from anti-base politics?

Frustrated by economic hardship, Okinawans have rallied behind a new governor, leaving long-standing anti-base resistance in disarray.

17 Sep 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea at Japan’s Asian Games: sports diplomacy or propaganda stunt?

Pyongyang is sending its largest-ever delegation to Japan, signalling a calculated bid to test Tokyo and pave the way for US re-engagement.

17 Sep 2026 - 6:34PM

South China Sea

‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’: why Japan’s Natuna port plan raises alarm in China

Tokyo offers port upgrades to boost maritime security, but analysts say Jakarta is being pragmatic, not taking sides against Beijing.

17 Sep 2026 - 10:30AMvideocam

An Indonesian coastguard ship sails next to a Vietnamese fishing vessel near Indonesia’s Natuna Islands in July 2020. Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian fishing boats have occasionally clashed over marine resources in the area. Photo: AFP

Japan

Why Zelensky’s Kyiv invite puts Japan PM Takaichi in a diplomatic bind

Analysts say a Ukraine trip will be an ‘excellent opportunity’ for Takaichi to show her mettle, despite concerns about chilly Russia ties.

17 Sep 2026 - 10:40AMvideocam

China’s military

Fragility and cooperation: takeaways from Dong Jun’s Xiangshan Forum speech

The Chinese defence minister officially opens the security conference with a warning about ‘zero-sum’ mindsets.

16 Sep 2026 - 2:51PMvideocam

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi opts for stability in first reshuffle since taking over LDP

The reshuffle comes ahead of changes to Takaichi’s cabinet, in which she is likely to also retain key ministers.

16 Sep 2026 - 10:29AM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives for a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

Singapore

Singapore ministers earn millions. What do other Asian leaders make?

Political pay structures elsewhere in Asia are shaped by factors including bureaucratic hierarchy, austerity and symbolic restraint.

16 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s annual pay benchmark will rise to S$3.6 million (US$2.83 million) on October 15. Photo: Reuters

China-Japan relations

Why Japanese outreach to China won’t break the ice without Takaichi

Visits by Japanese lawmakers and business groups aim to ease ties ahead of Apec summit, but experts say Tokyo must send clearer signal.

15 Sep 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Japan’s WEGO fashion brand is latest firm hit by Chinese consumer backlash

WEGO scrapped a collaboration with an anime and manga franchise that triggered controversy with a perceived reference to wartime atrocities.

13 Sep 2026 - 8:12PMvideocam

Japan

Japan’s protest over Russian soldier statue aggravates ‘summer of tension’

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is under pressure from conservatives to take firm action, including helping Ukraine in its war against Russia.

10 Sep 2026 - 4:03PMvideocam

The unveiling of a Soviet soldier smashing an imperial-era border marker bearing the emblem of the Japanese royal family in the Russian city of Khabarovsk has angered Tokyo. Photo: X/MFA Russia

China-Japan relations

Japan’s China-facing military push tests labour, budget and political limits

Amid ambitious transformation driven by risk it could be drawn into a Taiwan conflict, Tokyo tackles tough obstacles at home, analysts say.

10 Sep 2026 - 12:34AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

In Focus | How Japan is digging in to deter – and withstand – a conflict over Taiwan

A planned Hiroshima defence hub highlights how Tokyo is accelerating preparations to sustain its military should a Taiwan crisis reach Japan.

9 Sep 2026 - 6:10AMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore ministers set for pay rise with entry-level pay up to US$1.4 million

First pay update since 2012 aims to ensure political salaries do not ‘fall further behind’ market rates, the prime minister says.

8 Sep 2026 - 5:43PM

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Sanae Takaichi

(高市早苗)

From Taiwan to Takaichi, the geopolitical fallout from Xi-Trump summit

From structural rifts between US and China to debate over Washington’s treatment of ally Japan, some highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Japanese business presence in China down nearly 30% from peak in 2012: survey

China’s Wang Yi delivers high-level warning to Japanese business delegation

Trump, Takaichi reaffirm US-Japan ties in phone call after Xi state visit

They exchanged views on various issues surrounding China, Japanese leader’s post says, after World War II references spark concern in Tokyo.

Japan says Trump voiced concern over weak yen in summit with PM Takaichi

The weak yen is driving up energy import costs that are already high due to the Iran war, fuelling concerns about an inflation overshoot.

Trump hails WWII ‘ally’ China as Xi tells of bonds ‘forged in blood and fire’

Both leaders repeatedly refer to joint fight against Japan in highlighting history of cooperation and need for common ground.

Xi’s US welcome highlights lack of reception for Takaichi

Online comparisons of the two leaders’ arrivals in the US this week have raised questions over how Washington treats its Tokyo ally.

Trump praises Takaichi for doing ‘tremendous job’ ahead of Xi’s visit to US

Two leaders hail their good working relationship, with Sanae Takaichi saying the United States and Japan can look forward to deepening ties.

US tightens Japan, South Korea ties ahead of Trump-Xi summit

Days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in Washington, the US underscored relations with Japan and South Korea.

Shadow of Xi summit hangs over Trump’s high-stakes talks with Japan’s Takaichi

Tokyo is determined to ensure its vital interests are not traded away when US and Chinese leaders meet later this week, analysts say.

Russia targets ‘unfriendly nations’ as asset seizures spook Japanese firms

The takeover of Swiss and French brands raises the spectre of retaliation against some 230 Japanese businesses still in Russia.

China’s trade limits continue to bite into Japan’s rare earth imports

Rare earth magnet imports fall 17 per cent, following a 52 per cent plunge in July, amid deteriorating ties between Beijing and Tokyo.

How will Japan’s rate increase affect capital flow in global financial markets?

Tokyo’s bond yields are seeing multi-decade highs as Bank of Japan boosts borrowing cost to three-decade high.

Warning against Japan’s military build-up surfaces at Beijing security conference

Chinese scholars say Tokyo’s security expansion and US ties could trigger regional instability.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Macroscope | Who’s in control of Japanese monetary policy? Tokyo or Washington?

Bessent’s intervention could have adverse implications for Japan’s economy, the BOJ’s credibility and tech-heavy stock markets in Asia.

Is Japan’s Okinawa finally moving on from anti-base politics?

Frustrated by economic hardship, Okinawans have rallied behind a new governor, leaving long-standing anti-base resistance in disarray.

North Korea at Japan’s Asian Games: sports diplomacy or propaganda stunt?

Pyongyang is sending its largest-ever delegation to Japan, signalling a calculated bid to test Tokyo and pave the way for US re-engagement.

‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’: why Japan’s Natuna port plan raises alarm in China

Tokyo offers port upgrades to boost maritime security, but analysts say Jakarta is being pragmatic, not taking sides against Beijing.

Why Zelensky’s Kyiv invite puts Japan PM Takaichi in a diplomatic bind

Analysts say a Ukraine trip will be an ‘excellent opportunity’ for Takaichi to show her mettle, despite concerns about chilly Russia ties.

Fragility and cooperation: takeaways from Dong Jun’s Xiangshan Forum speech

The Chinese defence minister officially opens the security conference with a warning about ‘zero-sum’ mindsets.

Japan’s Takaichi opts for stability in first reshuffle since taking over LDP

The reshuffle comes ahead of changes to Takaichi’s cabinet, in which she is likely to also retain key ministers.

Singapore ministers earn millions. What do other Asian leaders make?

Political pay structures elsewhere in Asia are shaped by factors including bureaucratic hierarchy, austerity and symbolic restraint.

Why Japanese outreach to China won’t break the ice without Takaichi

Visits by Japanese lawmakers and business groups aim to ease ties ahead of Apec summit, but experts say Tokyo must send clearer signal.

Japan’s WEGO fashion brand is latest firm hit by Chinese consumer backlash

WEGO scrapped a collaboration with an anime and manga franchise that triggered controversy with a perceived reference to wartime atrocities.

Japan’s protest over Russian soldier statue aggravates ‘summer of tension’

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is under pressure from conservatives to take firm action, including helping Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Japan’s China-facing military push tests labour, budget and political limits

Amid ambitious transformation driven by risk it could be drawn into a Taiwan conflict, Tokyo tackles tough obstacles at home, analysts say.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}In Focus | How Japan is digging in to deter – and withstand – a conflict over Taiwan

A planned Hiroshima defence hub highlights how Tokyo is accelerating preparations to sustain its military should a Taiwan crisis reach Japan.

Singapore ministers set for pay rise with entry-level pay up to US$1.4 million

First pay update since 2012 aims to ensure political salaries do not ‘fall further behind’ market rates, the prime minister says.

Macroscope | Who’s in control of Japanese monetary policy? Tokyo or Washington?

In Focus | How Japan is digging in to deter – and withstand – a conflict over Taiwan