[Financial News] The official meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held in Shenzhen, China, on the 18th and 19th, has reportedly fallen through.
Japan’s Kyodo News reported on the 11th, citing multiple sources familiar with China-Japan relations.
A Chinese source told the news outlet, “Japan will be the only major participating country that does not meet with President Xi.”
China has opposed remarks by Prime Minister Takaichi last November suggesting Japan might intervene in the event of a Taiwan contingency, and has refused Japan’s requests for official dialogue. It continues to exert pressure through measures such as resuming its ban on Japanese seafood imports and imposing export controls on strategic materials, including rare earths.
Kyodo News predicted that while President Xi is expected to lavish attention on leaders such as those of the United States and Russia at the APEC summit, Prime Minister Takaichi is likely to be given the cold shoulder.
Japan asks China, “Don’t slight Prime Minister Takaichi; treat her on an equal footing with other leaders”
Several foreign media outlets recently reported that Japanese authorities are asking China not to slight Prime Minister Takaichi diplomatically and to treat her on an equal footing with other leaders.
Kyodo News noted that although the Japanese government plans to keep working until the last minute to arrange a meeting with President Xi, the prevailing view is that, for now, it would be more realistic to seek an opportunity for a brief handshake or other short interaction with him.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ response that day also reinforces the view that a China-Japan summit will be difficult to arrange.
At a regular briefing that day, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun did not directly answer a question about whether President Xi would meet Prime Minister Takaichi during the APEC summit. Instead, he said, “As the host of APEC 2026, China is willing to actively fulfill its responsibilities as host and work with all countries to ensure the smooth and successful ‘APEC China Year.’” He added, “China has stated its position on China-Japan relations on several occasions.”
The “position stated on several occasions” referred to by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs means that Prime Minister Takaichi should retract her remarks on Taiwan.
Wang Yi, head of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and foreign minister, met former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who visited China last September. While noting the need to “normalize” China-Japan relations, Wang set a precondition: “What is urgent for Japan is for its leader to promptly correct the erroneous words and actions regarding the Taiwan issue.” Wang also called at the time for “a correct attitude toward historical issues” and “an objective and rational understanding of China.”
China sets “prompt correction of erroneous words and actions on the Taiwan issue” as a precondition
While some in Japan had hoped that APEC would help improve China-Japan relations, there are concerns that the chill between the two countries could drag on. The Japanese government is also wary that APEC could provide an opportunity for its ally, the United States, to move closer to China and Russia.
The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government conveyed its concerns to the United States about a possible U.S.-China-Russia leaders’ summit during the APEC summit.
Earlier, on the 8th, President Donald Trump said he expected to meet with President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the Russian Kremlin said preparations for a meeting were under way.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed on the 4th that it was in communication with the countries concerned, and whether the first-ever trilateral summit of U.S., Chinese and Russian leaders will take place has emerged as one of the biggest points of interest at this APEC meeting.
China-Japan chill could drag on
Japan appears concerned that its “isolation” could be further highlighted if a cordial atmosphere develops at APEC between the United States—its most important diplomatic and security partner—and China and Russia, whose military expansion the Takaichi administration seeks to counter, as China is expected to give Prime Minister Takaichi the cold shoulder.
The Japanese government is concerned that its ally, the United States, could move closer to China and Russia, which are building up their military capabilities around Japan. It reportedly conveyed to the U.S. side that it was “concerned” about the message the leaders of the three countries might deliver if a summit takes place.
The U.S. side reportedly replied, “We fully understand Japan’s concerns.”[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Correspondent Reporter
