Shinzo Abe’s protege? Yes, and no.

Trump’s First ASEAN Summit

Japan’s dread of Trump’s “G-2” talk

Defence thrust, and the nuclear question

China, Japan’s key neighbour

Indonesia dips, Philippines rises for Tokyo

Is Quad dead in the water?

Japan and foreigners

Sanae Takaichi: woman, wife, rocker, biker

After woman PM, an Empress for Japan?

Our guest expert looks at her political approach, as well as her personal side. 

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 45 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ravi speaks with Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi, foreign policy adviser to the Cabinet of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and one of the most authoritative voices on Japan about the ascend and likely impact of Sanae Takaichi.

They discuss Ms Takaichi’s first diplomatic encounter with US President Donald Trump, her hardline approach to defence, and China, Japan’s shifting priorities in Asean as Philippines rises in salience and Indonesia declines, Tokyo’s dread of Trump’s ‘G-2’ talk, the future of the Quad security dialogue, and her approach to economic policy.

They also discuss Ms Takaichi’s softer, personal side – her early life, propensity to ride powerful motorbikes, marriage to the same man twice and finally, the question: Now that Japan has its first woman PM, is it time to consider an Empress for Japan?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:00 Shinzo Abe’s protege? Yes, and no.

5:00 Asean summit and first encounter with Donald J Trump

10:00 Japan’s dread of Trump’s “G-2” talk

12:00: Defence thrust, and the nuclear question

18:30 China, Japan’s key neighbour

22:30 For Tokyo, Indonesia dips while Philippines rises

26:00 Is Quad dead in the water?

31:00 Japan and foreigners

36:10 Sanae Takaichi: woman, wife, rocker, biker

41:20 After woman PM, an Empress for Japan?

Host: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg)

Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani & Chen Junyi

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#STAsianInsider

Our guest expert looks at her political approach, as well as her personal side.&nbsp;
Synopsis: The Straits Times&rsquo; senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 45 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Ravi speaks with Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi, foreign policy adviser to the Cabinet of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and one of the most authoritative voices on Japan about the ascend and likely impact of Sanae Takaichi.
They discuss Ms Takaichi&rsquo;s first diplomatic encounter with US President Donald Trump, her hardline approach to defence, and China, Japan&rsquo;s shifting priorities in Asean as Philippines rises in salience and Indonesia declines, Tokyo&rsquo;s dread of Trump&rsquo;s &lsquo;G-2&rsquo; talk, the future of the Quad security dialogue, and her approach to economic policy.
They also discuss Ms Takaichi&rsquo;s softer, personal side &ndash; her early life, propensity to ride powerful motorbikes, marriage to the same man twice and finally, the question: Now that Japan has its first woman PM, is it time to consider an Empress for Japan?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:00 Shinzo Abe&rsquo;s protege? Yes, and no.
5:00 Asean summit and first encounter with Donald J Trump
10:00 Japan&rsquo;s dread of Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;G-2&rdquo; talk
12:00: Defence thrust, and the nuclear question
18:30 China, Japan&rsquo;s key neighbour
22:30 For Tokyo, Indonesia dips while Philippines rises
26:00 Is Quad dead in the water?
31:00 Japan and foreigners
36:10 Sanae Takaichi: woman, wife, rocker, biker
41:20 After woman PM, an Empress for Japan?
Host: Ravi Velloor (<a href="mailto:velloor@sph.com.sg">velloor@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Ravi's columns:<a href="https://str.sg/3xRP"> https://str.sg/3xRP</a>
Follow Ravi on X:<a href="https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor"> https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor</a>
Sign up for ST&rsquo;s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/sfpz">https://str.sg/sfpz</a>&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani &amp; Chen Junyi
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa8">https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaX">https://str.sg/JWaX</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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