A diplomatic row with Japan over Taiwan has China turning to Britain and France for support, appealing to their shared history as wartime allies.

The Xi–Trump call signals China’s effort to reframe US–China relations from the post-Nixon framework to a post-World War II alignment. This is concerning for Japan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left), Chinese President Xi Jinping (center), and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (right) walk at the front of a group of dignitaries attending China’s military parade in Beijing, Sep. 3, 2025. Credit: Russian ...

World War II narratives, up for grabs. In September, China held a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Cannon fire, fighter jets, missil

Diplomatic crises often change the stakes for each, and for the Japanese, the consequences of this crisis are multifaceted. Japan’s new prime minister, Takaichi Sanae, was the initial focal point. As the Washington Post editorial board aptly noted,

BEIJING – Beijing and Moscow have agreed to “resolutely uphold the outcomes of World War II victory” and “counter any attempts to revive fascism or Japanese militarism”, at a high-level meeting of their senior officials, a move that observers said sent a clear signal of solidarity in championing the postwar international order.