Japan’s New Female PM Ticks Off China in a Big Way

Japan’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi—the nation’s first female prime minister—has been in office for only a few weeks, yet her tenure is already sending shockwaves through Asia. Her recent remarks on Taiwan have driven Japan–China relations to their most strained point in years, with fallout spreading across diplomacy, security, and economics.

How it started:
Early this month, Takaichi was asked how Japan might respond if China launched an attack on Taiwan. She indicated that Japan could consider a military response, saying the use of Chinese warships and force “could unquestionably constitute a crisis threatening the nation’s existence,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

China’s backlash:
Beijing reacted sharply. China issued a formal complaint to the UN and unleashed pointed criticism through state media. The People’s Daily accused Takaichi of openly signaling a willingness to intervene militarily in Taiwan—calling it a dangerous push by Japanese right-wing forces to escape the constraints of Japan’s pacifist constitution, per CNN.

Economic pressure campaign:
China also widened its response to the economic realm, reports the South China Morning Post. Flights from China to Japan were canceled, cruise ships rerouted, and Chinese citizens were encouraged not to travel to Japan. Beijing even halted imports of Japanese seafood. Analysts note that Beijing could escalate further by restricting rare-earth exports vital to Japan’s electronics and tech industries.

Tokyo stands firm:
Despite the mounting pressure, Takaichi—an ultra-conservative figure who has seen a surge of domestic support—is not backing down. Reuters reports that Japan further angered China by considering the deployment of missiles on an island near Taiwan. In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused Japanese “right-wing forces” of steering the region toward disaster.

The broader stakes:
According to CNN’s analysis, China’s aggressive posture appears aimed at warning Japan—and its allies, including the US—against intervening in any future Taiwan conflict. Beijing is also invoking Japan’s wartime atrocities in China to increase political pressure. The strategy, says Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore, is meant to “box Takaichi in early” and make her more cautious about expanding Japan’s defense capabilities.

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