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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

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15
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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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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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
A J-15 fighter jet takes off from the PLA Navy aircraft carrier Shandong. China’s two older aircraft carriers are expected to become able to operate the J-35 stealth fighter, like the newest Fujian. Photo: Handout
China's military weapons

China urged to fast-track carrier fleet upgrades as Japan boosts strike power

A potential gap that China’s carrier strike groups ‘need to address is the limited number of stealth fighters’, former PLA Navy officer says.

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Taiwan

Beijing sends largest patrol ship east of Taiwan after Japan-Philippine talks

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Taiwan

Are Japan-Philippines talks a maritime red line for China’s blue-water ambitions?

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The Philippines

Japan-Philippines maritime talks 2026

SCMP’s coverage of the ongoing maritime and defence talks between Japan and the Philippines. The high-level summits began in late May 2026 to China’s condemnation.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) shake hands before talks in Tokyo on May 28, 2026. Photo: Kyodo
China-Philippines relations

How Beijing could use its military and trade to hit back at Tokyo-Manila ties

Chinese experts warn the pair could pose a threat in a conflict over Taiwan, urge tough economic and military measures.

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Taiwan

How Japan, Philippines are building a maritime security front against China

Tokyo-Manila defence cooperation is linking Pacific flashpoints, with broad implications for Beijing, analysts say.

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Cook Islands

Rising seas: Japan makes pitch to Pacific nations caught in US-China rivalry

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi tells summit that Tokyo is committed to helping regional partners strengthen ‘autonomy and resilience’.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (centre) poses with representatives from the region during the opening of the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
China-South Korea relations

South Korea and Japan eye military logistics pact. Should China be wary?

Northeast Asian neighbours signal closer security ties, but wartime history and Seoul-Beijing relations could stand in the way, analysts say.

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Taiwan

Why have Japan and the Philippines’ maritime boundary talks angered China?

A new flashpoint has opened up in the western Pacific Ocean with Beijing expected to strengthen its presence in the waters east of Taiwan.

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US-China relations

Hegseth tones down China rhetoric on return to Asia

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth adopted a noticeably less hostile tone towards China in his address at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Photo: EPA
Taiwan

China responds to Japan-Philippines boundary talks with expanded sea patrols

Coastguard vessels carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, in a ‘necessary action’, spokesman says.

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The Daishan has led a formation of coastguard vessels on enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan. Photo: Handout
Shangri-La Dialogue

Japanese minister rejects ‘new militarism’ label from China in Shangri-La speech

‘Every country must be able to choose its future by its own will,’ Shinjiro Koizumi says at Singapore defence forum.

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Rare earths

China and Japan aren’t talking. Will their rare earth trade go quiet?

With bilateral relations at a low and Beijing already enacting limited export controls on critical minerals, fears of a broader ban grow.

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Taiwan

‘Illegal and void’: China condemns Japan-Philippines maritime border talks

Beijing says negotiations between Tokyo and Manila cover area east of Taiwan where it maintains exclusive economic zone.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) shake hands before talks in Tokyo on May 28, 2026. Photo: Kyodo
Diplomacy

Opinion | The 4 trilateral frameworks defining northeast Asia future

As great-power bargaining between the US, China and Russia collides with three regional triangles, finding a balance will be key to managing competition.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China relations

Why the US missile system heading to Japan could be a ‘sitting duck’ for China

This approach could be used ‘to strike our land-based targets on one hand, and block vital maritime passages on the other’: Chinese analyst.

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Japan

US to send powerful missile systems to Japan for drills amid China tensions

After the joint exercises, the systems will move to a US military base in Japan for storage.

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China exports

Japanese firms warn of ‘severe’ magnet shortages as China’s exports remain low

China’s exports of rare earth magnets to Japan recovered only modestly last month, with Japanese firms warning of ‘severe’ shortages.

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Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Reuters
China’s military drills

Chinese carrier kicks off drills in western Pacific amid tense Japan ties

The Liaoning carrier group will hold live-fire drills months after stand-off with Japanese fighter jets during a December exercise.

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Aviation

Locked out of Russia, could Japan’s airlines face new risk in Chinese skies?

Pilots say such a move would mark a major escalation of retribution for Japanese PM’s remarks on Taiwan.

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Self-Defence Forces (Japan)

Why does the PLA object to Japan’s drone plans for its southern islands?

Tokyo says it’s building a coastal defence system but Beijing sees an offensive purpose in the deployment.

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Japan will deploy a Type 88 surface-to-ship guided missile launcher (pictured) to Ishigaki, about 240km east of Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
Japan

To cut reliance on China, Japan eyes bespoke ship for rare earth extraction

Tokyo also aims to become a major global supplier despite the project facing technological, cost and geopolitical hurdles.

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A Japanese research vessel leaves a port in Shizuoka prefecture to collect rare earth mud off Minamitorishima Island in January. Photo: Kyodo
China trade

Sino-Japanese relations

China and Japan have forged strong economic ties, despite having regular diplomatic rows over disputed territories and the legacy of the Second World War. The latest escalation occurred in November after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan’s military forces could be deployed in the event of conflict in the Strait of Taiwan.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

Are China and Russia flexing their maritime muscle near Japan?

Tokyo’s recent tracking of three PLA Navy warships transiting Tsushima Strait comes amid heightened regional tensions.

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Sanae Takaichi

China condemns Japan’s first overseas ‘offensive missile’ test since WWII

Beijing says Japan’s ‘neo-militarism’ is a ‘scourge’ that threatens regional peace and stability.

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A Japanese Type 88 surface-to-ship missile is launched during the Balikatan joint drill in the Philippines on May 6, 2026. Photo: AFP
Japan

Opinion | The domestic dynamics driving Japan’s remilitarisation

Sanctions, diplomatic warnings and aggressive rhetoric create a perilous loop, reinforcing the very domestic tendencies China seeks to deter.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Rare earths

Takaichi signs Australia deals to boost Japan’s energy security

Japan’s prime minister penned agreements with her Australian counterpart as the two nations seek to pare reliance on Chinese rare earths and safeguard energy supplies amid the war in Iran.

Self-Defence Forces (Japan)

Why is China warning the UN of a Japanese ‘nuclear breakout’?

Beijing asks the international body to prioritise Tokyo’s ‘dangerous tendency to seek nuclear weapons’ as regional row escalates.

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