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stheresearcher.bsky.social
S the Researcher
@stheresearcher.bsky.social
observer of geopolitics in East Asia

researcher for an embassy somewhere

UC Berkeley (B.A)
University of Tokyo (M.A)
WSJ‘s [exclusive] about Trump told Takaichi to ”lower the volume on Taiwan“ during their call was DENIED by the 🇯🇵 govt spokesperson, saying it was NOT TRUE and no such advice was given.

This is not a good look
Trad media shouldn’t be a source of misinformation or support a govt‘s narrative 🚩
トランプ氏からの助言「そのような事実ない」 木原稔官房長官、米紙WSJに申し入れ
木原稔官房長官は27日の記者会見で、トランプ米大統領が高市早苗首相との25日の電話首脳会談で、台湾問題に関する発言の抑制を求めたとの米紙ウォールストリート・ジ…
www.sankei.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Huang Kuo-chang, the President of Taiwan’s opposition party TPP, is leading a youth delegation to visit Japan. The delegation was received by Keiji Furuya, Chairman of the Japan–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship League.

Furuya also serves as the LDP Election Strategy Committee chair.
黃國昌訪日交流 到訪高市早苗自民黨總裁辦公室 | 政治 | 中央社 CNA
民眾黨主席黃國昌今天率團訪日,在拜會日華懇會長古屋圭司時,古屋圭司邀請訪團進入自民黨總裁高市早苗的辦公室,眾人在「總裁」的桌牌前合影留念,黃國昌則感謝自民黨持續展現友好。
www.cna.com.tw
November 26, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Apparently hundreds of Chinese protested in front of the PM’s office against Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan.

The irony that they are using freedoms in Japan that their own government denies them.
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Trump looks to play a mediating role amid ongoing China-Japan tension.

Trump called Xi on Nov 24 and called Takaichi on Nov 25.

China first, then Japan...
The order shows his priorities: calm Beijing first, reassure Tokyo later.
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Just in case anyone thought Takaichi’s remark on Taiwan was all talk, 🇯🇵 Defense Minister Koizumi visited Yonaguni island on Nov23 (110 from Taiwan) and talked about plans to deploy a surface-to-air missile there.

China’s MOFA lashed out, saying it “stokes military confrontation.”
「日本が軍事対立を扇動」 中国が小泉防衛相の与那国町訪問巡り対空ミサイル配備計画批判
【北京=三塚聖平】中国外務省の毛寧(もう・ねい)報道官は24日の記者会見で、小泉進次郎防衛相が地対空ミサイル部隊配備計画の進む沖縄県与那国町を訪問したことに関…
www.sankei.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Nope Japanese PM Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li did not engage at G20 over the weekend. They stood nearby each other during a photo session but did not speak to each other.

The Japan’s side was open to communication but the Chinese side wasnt.
November 25, 2025 at 4:17 AM
12 flight routes from Japan to China has been cancelled. Chinese tourists now flooding to South Korea as the top travel destination.

Congrats to Korea for the tourism boom, meanwhile Japan doesn't seem to be particularly devastated about the drop in number of Chinese tourists. 🙃
日本と中国を結ぶ12航空路線で全便欠航|FNNプライムオンライン
日本と中国とを結ぶ12の航空路線で、全ての便が欠航となっていることがわかりました。中国の複数のメディアによりますと、24日午前10時時点で、日本と中国とを結ぶ航空路線のうち、杭州-名古屋間や南京-福岡間など合わせて12路線で、全ての便が欠航となっているということです。また、日本行きの便全体の欠航率が27日までに21.6%に達する見込みだということで、中国人に最も人気のある海外旅行先が日本から韓国に...
www.fnn.jp
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Takaichi said on Nov21

🇯🇵’s policy of seeking a “mutually beneficial strategic relationship” and a “constructive and stable relationship” with 🇨🇳 “remains unchanged.”

“What is a survival threatening scenario would be judged by the govt based on what actually occur.”

No retraction
Just diplomacy
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 AM
China’s MOFA spokesperson reiterated on Nov 20 that there will be no plans for Chinese Premier Li and Japanese PM Takaichi to meet at G20 this weekend in Johannesburg.
外交部:李强总理没有会见日方领导人的安排,请日方自重-新华网
外交部:李强总理没有会见日方领导人的安排,请日方自重-
www.xinhuanet.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:49 AM
The news on the impact current Japan-China relations have on Japan’s tourism is concerning.

Some cited 5 people and then draws the conclusions that most tourists are “shrugging off” the travel advisories and then others are all citing data by ONE analyst (~500k ✈️ cancelled) with no 2nd source 🙄
November 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM
China’s attack on Japan has now elevated to the global stage.

Fu Cong, China's envoy to the UN said at UNGA's annual mtg on SC reform.
"Takaichi’s remarks are an affront to intl justice, damage world order…Japan totally unqualified to have permanent seat in SC.”

Ofc, 🇨🇳is most peace loving
🇷🇺🇰🇵too
Japan totally unqualified to seek permanent seat on UN Security Council: Chinese envoy
english.news.cn
November 19, 2025 at 6:25 AM
How exactly does China’s Consul General in Osaka expect to get any high-lvl diplomatic work done when both the Mayor of Osaka and the Gov of Osaka has expressed it would be hard to show up to events Xue attends?

Gov also called for a biz model that can sustained itself even if 🇨🇳tourists fall to 0
薛剣氏の投稿は「極めて不適切、許されない」 吉村知事、総領事主催の行事不参加を表明
大阪府の吉村洋文知事(日本維新の会代表)は18日の定例記者会見で、中国の薛剣(せつけん)駐大阪総領事が高市早苗首相に対して「汚い首は斬ってやるしかない」などと…
www.sankei.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Yoshimura, Gov of 大阪/the co-leader of Ishin, a coalition partner of the LDP, said on Nov 18 that 🇨🇳Consul General in Osaka Xue JIan should be declared persona non grata and indicated deportation should be considered.

He also said he will not attend any event hosted by Xue unless Xue apologizes.
維新・吉村代表、中国総領事の投稿批判 国外退去の検討も求める:朝日新聞
日本維新の会の吉村洋文代表(大阪府知事)は18日、台湾有事をめぐる高市早苗首相の国会答弁に対する中国の薛剣在大阪総領事のSNS投稿について、「外交官として非常に不適切だ」とし、「今の状態であればペル…
www.asahi.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
The Japanese envoy sent to China returned to Japan on evening of 18th. 毎日新聞 reported“the two sides’ positions remain parallel” and that sounds about right. No concessions from either side as expected.

Now the focus is on whether Takaichi and 🇨🇳Premier Li will meet on margins of G20.
両者の主張は「平行線」 日中局長級協議 日本は首相答弁撤回せず | 毎日新聞
外務省の金井正彰アジア大洋州局長は18日、北京で中国外務省の劉勁松(りゅうけいしょう)アジア局長と数時間にわたって協議した。高市早苗首相の台湾有事に関する国会答弁について、従来の日本の立場を変えるものではないと説明し、撤回しない考えを伝えた。劉氏は首相答弁の撤回を改めて要求。両者の主張は平行線をた
mainichi.jp
November 19, 2025 at 12:38 AM
People

Please realize that lawmakers, diplomats, and those within the East Asia political spheres choose their words VERY carefully

NUANCES MATTER A LOT

Don’t switch out “synonyms” when citing them

Double check the translations for different connotations

I beg u
Seen too much false shit
November 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Those saying Japan is “revising” the three non-nuclear principles and Japan is “shifting security stance significantly“ please 🛑 because It is NOT TRUE.

1. review 見直し for 「非核三原則」and revise 改定 for 安保3文書

2. DM Koizumi said he intends to inherit then-FM Okada’s stance in 2010 (continuity not shift)
November 18, 2025 at 10:32 AM
After Chinese side said there won’t be a meeting between Sanae Takaichi and Li Qiang at G20. Japanese Govt spokesperson said Japan side is open to a meeting between Takaichi and Li.

These whole series of interactions really gives off the impression of an adult comforting a child throwing a tantrum…
日中対話「日本側はオープン」 首相面会否定で、木原官房長官が見解:朝日新聞
台湾有事をめぐる高市早苗首相の国会答弁に中国側が反発している問題で、今週末の主要20カ国・地域首脳会議(G20サミット)において、中国側が、李強(リーチアン)首相が高市首相と面会する予定はないと発言…
www.asahi.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:14 AM
As “Japan is considering lifting ban on nuclear weapons” gets out of hand, note theres historical precedence for loose interpretation of the “no-introduction” clause:

(1) 密約of U.S nuclear-armed ships transit through Japan
(2) possible intro of US nuclear arms in Okinawa in case of crisis (1969)
November 18, 2025 at 5:01 AM
So Japanese anime Demon Slayer earned around $56million/8.5billion yen in Chinese box office in 5 days. Reminder that this is AFTER Takaichi’s comment about Taiwan.

Yea so despite the 🇨🇳govt‘s anti-Japan campaign, many are still rushing to see Japanese anime and many will still visit Japan.
刷新内地影史纪录 《鬼灭之刃:无限城篇》上映5天票房破4亿
刷新内地影史纪录 《鬼灭之刃:无限城篇》上映5天票房破4亿
cj.sina.cn
November 18, 2025 at 12:38 AM
This kind of post is frankly alarmist speculation with big leap little evidence

Yes Takaichi’s cabinet Is CONSIDERING to revisit the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, but only the “no introduction” part to consider whether during crisis, US can bring ☢️ weapons to 🇯🇵 temporarily. Never about 持たず or 作らず
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 AM
🇨🇳🇹🇭
Chinese government Xi met with the King Of Thailand (Nov 14) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The King received a 21-gun salute and watched a PLA military parade alongside of Xi.
They agreed to work together on Thai railways, AI, digital economy aerospace, etc.
www.mfa.gov.cn
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 AM
A Japan MOFA official (Director General of Asian and Oceanic affairs) is traveling to China and is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese side on November 18. The aims is reduce tension and explain Japan’s positioning while demanding China to take appropriate response to the ”beheading“ comment.
外務省局長、中国へ出発 高市首相の台湾有事答弁を説明 「斬首」投稿の総領事対応も要請
外務省の金井正彰アジア大洋州局長は17日、高市早苗首相が台湾有事は日本が集団的自衛権を行使できる「存立危機事態」になり得ると国会答弁したことを巡り、中国側と協…
www.sankei.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Economic/hybrid pressure from China is possible and may even be underway now. Japanese companies in China will likely face hurdles or inspections, cancellation of flights, hackers going offense on cybersecurity and breaching Japanese govt agencies, financial institutions, telecoms, airlines…
November 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM
It is hard to deny that 🇯🇵🇨🇳 relations is deteriorating and it is difficult to see how this can be de-escalated.

The hostility between the two isn’t even about Taiwan anymore (it is a trigger yes) but now both leaders need to remain hardline to not disappoint its ppl.

Their legitimacy is at risk.
November 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Relations between Japan and China look to be heading further south as 🇨🇳’s MOFA has warned citizens that traveling to Japan poses “serious safety risks.” 3 major Chinese state-run airlines are now offering free cancellation of flights to and from Japan.

This could alleviate Japan’s over-tourism prob
中国国有航空大手3社、日本便の無料キャンセル受け付け 中国外務省の渡航自粛呼びかけで
【北京=三塚聖平】中国メディアによると、中国国有航空大手3社は15日、日本発着の航空券について条件付きでキャンセルや変更を無料で受け付けると発表した。高市早苗…
www.sankei.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:05 AM