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Taiwan Strait tensions rise amid Japan-China rift over Takaichi's remarks

Japan-China relations sour after PM Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, prompting diplomatic outreach from Japanese lawmakers and Taiwanese officials even as Taiwan's president vows to defend sovereignty amid rising cross-strait pressure.

2 stories17 sourcesUpdated Aug 24, 2026

In this storyline:Taiwan Strait People's Republic of China Japan Sanae Takaichi Lai Ching-te Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Johnny Chiang Beijing

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total articles across this storyline · last 72h

Key developments

Aug 24, 2026
A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers travels to Beijing seeking to mend ties after PM Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan remarks sparked a diplomatic rupture with China.
11 sources on this →
Aug 24, 2026
Taiwan's Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang leads a delegation to Tokyo for parliamentary diplomacy talks on trade, culture and regional supply-chain resilience.
11 sources on this →
Aug 24, 2026
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te marks the 68th anniversary of the 1958 Taiwan Strait crisis, vowing 'peace through strength' and pledging increased defense spending.
6 sources on this →

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Photo: Sanae Takaichi — Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

World

Japan, Taiwan seek to mend ties with China

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, including a member of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's party, traveled to Beijing to mend strained China relations after Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, with officials saying communications have been severed and a window for dialogue may be sought, while Takaichi warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan and justify the use of force. Separately, Taiwan's Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang led a delegation to Tokyo to attend the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union meetings to bolster parliamentary diplomacy with Japan, focusing on trade, culture, and regional supply-chain resilience.

11 sources

Politics

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Peace Through Strength Guides Taiwan Leader Remarks

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said that peace can only be secured through strength as he marked the 68th anniversary of the 1958 Taiwan Strait crisis on Kinmen, stressing that Taiwan will not yield an inch of territory and that defense spending must rise. The ceremonies underscored Taiwan’s resolve amid ongoing pressure from China and referenced unprecedented defense commitments for the coming year to safeguard sovereignty.

6 sources