PERTH, Australia (AP) — Momoko Tanikawa and Kiko Seike scored second-half goals as Japan overcame the heat and a determined Taiwan defense on Wednesday to open Group C with a 2-0 win at the Women’s Asian Cup.

Japan begins its quest to defend its World Baseball Classic championship on Friday against Taiwan. The 20 teams in the tournament are divided into four pools. Japan, which won the previous WBC in 2023, is in Pool C with Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic. The game against Taiwan is Japan's first match in the preliminary round.

Japan will deploy missiles to its westernmost island near Taiwan within the next five years because of heightened tensions with China.

China on Friday took its feud with Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Taikachi’s recent comments on Taiwan to the United Nations, as tensions between the East Asian neighbours deepened and ties plunged to their lowest since 2023. “If Japan dares ...

Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa finally cracked a dogged Taiwan as powerhouse Japan kicked off its Women's Asian Cup with a 2-0 victory in Perth.

Japan plans to deploy missiles near Taiwan, a move analysts say risks deepening regional tensions with China.

Geography has always made Japan central to Taiwan’s security. Taiwan, in turn, underpins Japan’s own security as a geographic extension of the Japanese archipelago. Under Takaichi, that geographic reality is finally being translated into operational strategy.