Hours later, China opened an anti-dumping probe into a key chipmaking material, taking aim at another pillar of Japanese industry. Taken together, the moves show China President Xi Jinping’s pressure campaign against Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her comments on Taiwan is just getting started. “Traditionally, Japan’s diplomacy has followed a clear pattern: first you lock in the relationship with the US and then face China. Japan is keeping the US in the loop as ties with the world’s number two economy continue to fray. Just days ago, Takaichi said she had an “extremely meaningful” call with Trump and would visit the US later this year.

Source: The Edge Markets January 07, 2026 13:08 UTC