China in diplomatic push to isolate Japan in feud over Taiwan issue

Anthony Kuhn

December 05, 2025 / 3:47 am

SEOUL – The biggest feud between Japan and China in more than a decade appears to be escalating, with China trying to isolate Japan diplomatically, as punishment for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks last month about Japan's possible involvement in a conflict over Taiwan.

No end to the spat is in sight, and neither side shows signs of climbing down.

In recent weeks, China has tried to persuade leaders of the U.S., the U.K. and France to support its position. It argues that "Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order," as Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Trump in a Nov. 24 phone call . Trump, meanwhile, made no mentio

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