Free Republic

Tokyo on Saturday will mark one year since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about the possibility of a Japanese military intervention in a Taiwan crisis triggered a diplomatic rupture with Beijing — a rift that shows few signs of closing as the two sides remain stubbornly at odds. The ongoing dispute between China and Japan began following Takaichi’s remarks in parliament on Nov. 7, 2025, that the Self-Defense Forces could be deployed under the right to collective self-defense in “worst-case” scenarios, such as a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan, which the prime minister said could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for...

Sysco, the nation’s largest food distributor, will acquire supplier Restaurant Depot in a deal worth more than $29 billion. The acquisition would create a closer link between Sysco and its customers that right now turn to Restaurant Depot for supplies needed quickly in an industry segment known as “cash-and-carry wholesale.” Sysco, based in Houston, serves more than 700,000 restaurants, hospitals, schools and hotels, supplying them with everything from butter and eggs to napkins. Those goods are typically acquired ahead of time based on how much traffic that restaurants typically see. Restaurant Depot offers memberships to mom-and-pop restaurants and other businesses,...