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ARTICLE · 12 JANUARY 2026

Deep-Seated Grievances Resurface In East Asia

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Last year's political vacuums in Seoul and Tokyo ushered in two leaders who have taken sharply divergent approaches to relations with China.

GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Zayna Dembinski
Zayna Dembinski

Last year's political vacuums in Seoul and Tokyo ushered in two leaders who have taken sharply divergent approaches to relations with China. Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan in November triggered a sharp downturn in China-Japan relations and revived rhetoric centered on Imperial Japan. In contrast, South Korea's ties with China have warmed under President Lee, whose pragmatic diplomacy has readily positioned Seoul to balance relations with both Washington and Beijing. Together, these dynamics point to a year of careful navigation for regional leaders and businesses alike as they seek to avoid fallout from further escalation.

Downward Turn in China-Japan Relations

President Trump's return to the White House and reintroduction of protectionist policies quietly fueled speculation about closer regional coordination among East Asia's major powers. Last year saw the resumption of China-Japan-South Korea trilateral foreign ministers' dialogue after a

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