But the Global Times, a nationalistic Chinese tabloid, has repeatedly blamed “right-wing forces” represented by Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi for curdling ties. People gather to bid farewell to a truck carrying giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in Tokyo, Japan, earlier this week. Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi. Photograph: Buddhika Weerasinghe/GettyDespite a calibrated burst of nationalist fury from China, Takaichi has declined to back down. This is the formula followed by most post-war Japanese prime ministers until Takichi’s intervention.

Source: The Irish Times January 30, 2026 19:35 UTC