Why China pulled the plug on Japan

<p dir="ltr">Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi made waves last fall after saying her country might intervene if China invaded Taiwan. In response, China launched state-organized boycotts against Japan — canceling concerts, restricting seafood imports, and even recalling pandas. Today on the show, what does it look like for a state to organize a boycott, and does it work? <p dir="ltr"><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/nx-s1-5629205/how-japans-new-prime-minister-is-jolting-markets" target="_blank">How Japan’s new prime minister is jolting markets</a><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/28/1247707503/when-do-boycotts-work" target="_blank">When do boycotts work?</a> <br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/07/1127595393/taiwan-miracle-semiconductor-silicon-shield-china" target="_blank">Forging Taiwan's Silicon Shield</a> <p dir="ltr">For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/" target="_blank">plus.npr.org</a>. Fact-checking by <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez" target="_blank">Sierra Juarez</a>. Music by <a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Drop Electric</a>. Find us: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney" target="_blank">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money" target="_blank">Newsletter</a>.  <br /><br />See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>