Tokyo/Beijing – Relations between Japan and China plunged to new lows on November 18, 2025, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared a Chinese attack on Taiwan could invoke Japan’s collective self-defense. Beijing retaliated swiftly: suspending all Japanese film releases, urging citizens to avoid crowds in Japan, and deploying ships near disputed islands.
Japan dispatched a senior envoy for urgent damage control as tourism stocks plummeted. Takaichi’s remarks – the boldest yet from Tokyo – shattered fragile calm, with analysts warning of risks to $300 billion in bilateral trade. The standoff underscores rising flashpoints in the Taiwan Strait amid global powers’ realignments.
