China is turning to a well-used playbook to express its displeasure with Japan over a statement by its prime minister on Taiwan

Two strong earthquakes struck Japan Tuesday at magnitudes of 5.4 and 4.7, according to data from the United States Geological Survey ( USGS ). The first quake struck in the Pacific Ocean about 80 miles east-southeast from Kitaibaraki at a depth of around 6 miles, 10 km, the data shows. Kitaibaraki is about 110 miles northeast of Tokyo.

Core consumer prices in Japan's capital rose 2.8% in November from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, exceeding the central bank's 2% target and keeping alive market expectations for a near-term interest rate hike.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Japan has "crossed a red line” with comments by the country's new leader suggesting a potential military intervention over Taiwan

Japan's Cabinet has approved a $135-billion stimulus package to help spur the economy and relieve the impact of higher prices.

Analysts said Beijing would continue to push for a retraction, but some argued that the Japanese leader could not risk a domestic backlash.

The Bank of Japan can resume interest rate hikes as risks from U.S. tariffs subside but must do so at a "measured, step-by-step" pace, its board member Asahi Noguchi said, stressing the need to tread cautiously in pushing up borrowing costs.

Lee Sang-il’s kabuki drama Kokuho has set a new record in Japan, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film ever in the market with over $111M at the local box office. The Ken Watanabe-starrer is Japan’s entry for the International Feature Oscar and was released for one-week qualifying runs by GKids in the U.