Japan’s New Leader Infuriated Beijing. She Isn’t Backing Down.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not secure a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the G20 summit in Johannesburg, following her controversial remarks regarding Taiwan that have heightened tensions between Japan and China.

A Western company's attempt to establish a rare-earths mine outside of China's influence has failed, highlighting Beijing's dominance in the global rare-earths supply chain. This failure underscores the challenges faced by Western entities in securing critical resources that are essential for various technologies.

Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is navigating the complexities of gender equality in a country where traditional norms still dominate, particularly in sumo, which has a longstanding ban on women participating in its rituals. This marks a significant moment in Japan's political landscape as Takaichi seeks to challenge these norms.