FOCUS: Japan needs to focus on ties with U.S., others as China deadlock persists

A year after ties with China went into a tailspin over remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on how Japan might respond to a crisis over Taiwan, Tokyo should focus on enhancing relations with the United States and other like-minded states rather than bowing to pressure to win a short-term improvement in its relationship with its neighbor, analysts said.As China continues to press the narrative in the international arena that the Takaichi government's defense buildup policy reflects rising "neo-militarism," Japan needs to prove it remains a peace-loving nation respecting freedom of expres…READ FULL ARTICLE