China punishes Japan’s new leader with harsh words and economic pain

China’s response to Takaichi’s lack of ambiguity has been immediate and extreme, and it is threatening to turn a diplomatic spat into a regional crisis. “Her backstabbing obviously enraged China’s top leadership,” said Wang Guangtao, deputy director of the center for Japanese studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University. “China’s reactions could also be meant as a reminder to some targeted audiences in the United States and other Western countries who have great enthusiasm for the Taiwan issue.” Takaichi’s comments seem to be an attempt to “drag the United States into the fray,” Wang said, as Washington would be treaty-bound to defend…