Sanae Takaichi · Full chronicle and history

On November 10, the Steering Committee of the Japanese House of Representatives approved Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's overseas visit schedule: first to the Philippines to attend ASEAN-related summits, and then to Shenzhen to participate in the APEC Leaders' Meeting from the 18th to the 19th, marking her first visit to China since taking office.

Bloomberg reported on November 9, citing people familiar with the matter, that Japanese officials have been striving to ensure Sanae Takaichi receives the same reception as other attending leaders from the Chinese side. It is expected that Xi Jinping will shake hands with her as per protocol, though it remains unconfirmed whether the two will hold a separate meeting.

Japanese calligraphy has been recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a message to celebrate.

According to Radio France Internationale, former LDP Secretary-General Sanae Takaichi offered an offering called "Shinsakaki" to Yasukuni Shrine on October 17, 2026. Asked by the media whether she would personally visit the shrine to pay her respects, Takaichi gave no clear response, saying only that it was inconvenient to disclose her itinerary.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on October 14 at the House of Representatives Budget Committee that there is room for discussion regarding wording that would allow U.S. forces to bring nuclear weapons into Japan.

Media including China News Service (chinanews.com.cn), China.org.cn, and "Guoshi Zhitongche" under China News Service concentrated on reporting Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's visit to the United States and her interaction with Trump, using expressions such as "stepping forward to embrace her proactively" and "coming forward with quick small steps to throw herself into his arms," while Elephant News said she "actively went after reporters."

In response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's call to delete the enemy clause of the UN Charter, the Chinese representative stated firm opposition at the UN General Assembly and accused the Japanese side of attempting to push for the revival of militarism.

In the phone call between Sanae Takaichi and Trump, the two sides discussed economic security and China-related affairs, and confirmed that they will continue to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Immediately after Xi Jinping's departure, Trump held a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to provide a full briefing on the meeting, with the U.S.-Japan alliance reaffirming their joint response to the regional situation.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the US from September 21 to 24, meeting with Trump in New York ahead of Xi Jinping's US visit, out of concern that the US might compromise with China on sovereignty issues in exchange for Chinese orders.

President Trump attended the UN General Assembly in New York, delivered a speech, and met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York late on September 21 and held talks with US President Trump on September 22. The discussions focused on emphasizing $550 hours in US investments and job creation in the US to offset pressure to increase funding for US forces in Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York late at night on September 21, planning to hold talks with Trump on September 22. The visit aims to coordinate stances on China ahead of a US-China summit and discuss the burden of US military stationing costs in Japan.

According to a Reuters report on September 17, Japan and Taiwan are stepping up communication with the U.S. amid concerns that Trump might sacrifice Taiwan's interests for economic and trade commitments during the anticipated September 24 meeting with Xi Jinping. Japan has already dispatched officials to the U.S. to secure a meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Trump, and Taiwan has also expressed its position to the U.S. side.

To reshuffle her cabinet, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's cabinet first resigned en masse and then completed the reorganization on the same day, finishing the whole procedure within a single day; CCP propaganda portrayed it as a collective cabinet resignation and Takaichi losing support.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke at the UN General Assembly, calling for the removal of UN Charter clauses targeting WWII enemy states, which was firmly opposed by Chinese representative Sun Lei, who accused Japan of the resurgence of militarism.

The U.S. President phoned Japan Prime Minister Takaichi while in Beijing to emphasize the U.S.-Japan relationship and alliance.

Takaichi Sanae traveled to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, in contrast with the attendance of nearly 130 heads of state and government leaders.

During the Xiangshan Forum in September 2026, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was invited to take part in a dialogue, saying that he had visited China nearly 100 times, that Sanae Takaichi's Taiwan remarks deviate from the position of previous Japanese governments and are regrettable, and that she should retract her statements. CCTV reported on this.

On August 27, 2026, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on a social media platform, expressing deep grief over the major disaster caused by a severe mudslide that suddenly struck the China-Nepal border region in Tibet, mourning the victims and offering condolences to the affected people.

Approximately 50,000 people from over 100 countries and regions participated in the memorial ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed the three non-nuclear principles.

At the Hiroshima atomic bomb memorial ceremony, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, stating that she will do her utmost to uphold peace and realize a nuclear-weapons-free world.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited earthquake-hit areas in Kumamoto Prefecture, saying the government is doing its utmost to maintain water supply and thanking international aid, including from the United States, China, and Taiwan.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae urged about 300,000 people in Kumamoto Prefecture to evacuate and remain alert.

The program stated that Takaichi said Japan would intervene if Taiwan were attacked, linking a Taiwan contingency to a contingency for Japan.

On June 15, 2026, the New York Times reported that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is accelerating Japan's rearmament on the grounds of countering military threats from China and North Korea, including deploying long-range cruise missiles and lifting the ban on arms exports.

In 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi publicly mentioned the San Francisco Treaty, implying that Taiwan's status has remained undetermined since that treaty, and emphasized Japan's concern over Taiwan's security, provoking a strong reaction from Beijing.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on the Taiwan issue have plunged China-Japan relations into prolonged confrontation and tension.

In November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said in the Diet that a Taiwan incident could constitute a “existential crisis” for Japan; China then issued a travel advisory for trips to Japan and suspended imports of Japanese seafood, causing Sino-Japanese relations to deteriorate sharply.