A Message to China from Japan’s Takaichi Administration
After Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's November 2025 remarks on collective self-defense, China imposed economic measures and restricted exchanges. Takaichi has since reiterated that Japan's Taiwan and China policies are unchanged and expressed openness to dialogue. Recent signals include a greeting by Foreign Minister Motegi to his Chinese counterpart and Takaichi's positive comment on the upcoming APEC summit.
Why it matters: This relates to the theme of great-power competition, as Japan seeks to manage tensions with China while maintaining its alliances.