TOKYO - Japan and the United States are in the final stage of planning for a meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Donald Trump in Washington on Feb 7, the Asahi newspaper said on Jan 30, citing sources from both nations.

Dr Yanqiu Zheng is a historian of China in the world and is the Associate Director of Asia and Pacific Programs at St. Lawrence University’s Patti McGill Peterson Center for International and Intercultural Studies. [email protected] This review article is published under a Creative Commons Licence and may be republished with attribution.

The first sign of improving Japan–China relations during the summit was the behaviour of the two leaders. Both Prime Minister Ishiba and President Xi appeared conciliatory in their public interactions. Xi’s cordial approach reflects China’s shift to smile diplomacy instead of its hard-line wolf warrior approach of the past.

As Donald Trump re-enters the presidential office, the durability of these efforts will be tested, with his administration likely to reshape — though not entirely abandon — this critical partnership.

Japan is intensifying its defense capabilities in response to growing security challenges in East Asia, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated during a meeting with U.S. officials in Washington.

The Japanese government recommended on Tuesday ancient capitals located in current-day Nara Prefecture, western Japan, as candidates

TOKYO: Japanese authorities have asked 1.2 million people to cut back on showers and laundry to prevent leaking sewage aggravating an operation to rescue a truck driver in a sinkhole.

TOKYO: Japan saw a record number of suicides among school pupils in 2024, health ministry data showed on Wednesday (Jan 29). The latest data among those in elementary through high school edged up to 527 from 513 cases in 2023,

As South Korea grapples with diplomatic constraints and Japan prepares for a potential February summit with President Trump, close cooperation between the two countries could provide a solid foundation for addressing uncertainties in Trump 2.

Amid tariff threats from President Trump, major LNG importers like Japan, India, and Kuwait are negotiating increased U.S. LNG purchases, while China remains hesitant.

From climate disasters to political upheavals, Asia faced significant challenges in 2024, leaving a complex legacy for the region. Whether it’s a turning point for collaboration or a deepening of divisions,

Eyck Freymann is a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University and Nonresident Research Fellow with the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College. Hugo Bromley is an Applied History Research Fellow at the Center for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge.