Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is navigating a delicate diplomatic path with Beijing ahead of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, balancing a firm stance on national security with openings for dialogue. Tensions between the two nations flared following a November 7, 2025, debate at the Lower House Budget Committee, where Takaichi addressed the legal applications of Japan’s right of collective self-defense and the specific circumstances that would constitute a "survival-threatening situation," using the Taiwan Strait as an illustrative example.
China reacted with sharp hostility to the remarks, verbally accusing Japan of "neo-militarism" and escalating its military posture. Beijing moved to normalize Chinese Navy operations—particularly involving its aircraft carriers—in the waters between the First Island Chain and the Second Island Chain. Additionally, the Chinese coast guard began deployments east of Taiwan’s coast. On the economic front, Beijing applied security provisions to Japanese companies, restricted rare earth exports, and took measures to curtail tourism and other bilateral exchanges, heavily impacting economic, local-governmental, and academic connections. Despite China's demands for a retraction of her November 7 statements, Takaichi has firmly refused to back down.
In the days and months following the initial controversy, the Takaichi administration sought to clarify that its core policy had not shifted, even as it maintained its ground. During a Budget Committee session on November 11, 2025, Takaichi emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are vital not only for Japan's security but also for global stability, reiterating Japan's long-standing expectation that Taiwan-related issues be resolved peacefully through dialogue. She reinforced this position during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on December 3, 2025, stating that the government's basic stance regarding Taiwan remains unchanged and aligned with the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communiqué.
On broader bilateral relations, Takaichi has consistently expressed openness to engagement. Speaking at a joint meeting of congressional committees on November 26, 2025, she noted that both nations had agreed to build constructive and stable relations, adding that any outstanding challenges should be resolved through direct communication between leaders. Meanwhile, Japanese Diet speakers have adopted a standard refrain, pledging to closely monitor the situation and respond appropriately to the various retaliatory measures imposed by China.
As the administration looked toward strengthening international alliances, Takaichi told the House of Councillors on February 25, 2026, that Japan remained open to different forms of dialogue with China while actively cooperating with its ally, the United States, and other like-minded countries. This statement preceded her March 2026 visit to Washington. Following her return, Takaichi reaffirmed cooperation with the U.S. on China policy during a March 26 plenary address, while continuing to repeat her established diplomatic formulas.
The next major test for bilateral relations will come in November 2026, when Chinese President Xi Jinping hosts the APEC summit in China. Takaichi is expected to attend, and when asked about the summit during a July 27, 2026, press conference, she stated simply, "I am looking forward to it." While observers believe the likelihood of a formal, bilateral meeting between Takaichi and Xi is low, some form of contact will be nearly unavoidable as Xi greets attending world leaders.
Amid the diplomatic freeze, there are signs of a shifting mood on the Japanese side. Following remarks by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in late June 2026 that appeared to authorize private exchanges, Japanese business associations and parliamentary groups quickly announced plans to visit China this fall. While it remains unclear whether this "green light" represents a coordinated decision by top Chinese leadership, the upcoming visits represent the first significant attempt to normalize ties in months.
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