China and Japan are two of Asia’s most powerful nations and the region’s biggest trading partners. Yet centuries of intense rivalry mean their economic embrace can never be taken for granted.

No end in sight to spat between Japan and China over Taiwan, as neither Tokyo nor Beijing shows signs of backing down.

As China-Japan diplomatic row ripples into entertainment, over 30 Japanese performances have been abruptly cancelled, leaving millions of fans of Japanese culture in China worried about a potential broader cultural ban.

The outlook for business diplomacy is uncertain with visits planned for late January by business leaders, now in limbo. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Japanese entertainment industry has become increasingly reliant on China in recent years. China is the world’s second-largest market for anime, with fantasy films like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which was released last month, rising to the top of the Chinese box office.

China is trying to impose economic costs on Japan for wading into the issue of Taiwan. But experts say the escalating dispute could ultimately hurt China too.

The use of both international lawfare and historical narrative warfare signals a major, under-recognized shift in China’s Taiwan strategy and its approach to Japan.

A Chinese carrier strike group launched intense air operations near Japan over the weekend as the East Asian neighbours traded diplomatic barbs in an escalating dispute, further straining ties.