Tokyo, Nov. 15 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to leave on a four-day tour of the Philippines and China on Monday for a series of international meetings. Japan is seeking to arrange a bilateral summit with China on the sidelines of the gatherings. But it is difficult for Takaichi to meet individually with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Beijing remains frustrated at the Japanese prime minister’s remarks about a year ago over a possible contingency regarding Taiwan, Japanese government sources said. In Manila on Tuesday, Takaichi is slated to attend meetings such as a summit among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, China and South Korea. Also planned is a summit of the Quad nations of Japan, the United States, Australia and India, in which Takaichi aims to confirm with U.S. President Donald Trump and other participating leaders the strengthening of cooperation in the fields of economic security and artificial intelligence in light of China’s coercive behavior. Takaichi is slated to move to Shenzhen, southern China, on Wednesday. Tokyo is trying to improve its strained ties with Beijing. But the Chinese side is reluctant to hold a bilateral summit with Japan, strongly calling on the country to correct Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks in question. “China has closed the door to dialogue, so there is nothing we can do,” an official at the prime minister’s office said. The Japanese side will continue seeking opportunities for Takaichi to have any form of contact with Xi, including a brief chat. Takaichi will attend a two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Shenzhen from Wednesday, which will also be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia, which continues to apply pressure on Japan, has recently detained a reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper, on suspicion of espionage and unilaterally placed Japan Tobacco Inc.’s assets in Russia under the management of a Russian firm. A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said it is possible that Takaichi would “encounter” Putin during the APEC summit. Through the series of meetings, Takaichi hopes to strengthen cooperation with allied and like-minded countries. Trump’s moves are a source of concern for Japan. On Thursday, the U.S. president plans to meet with Xi and hold a trilateral meeting with Xi and Putin. With Trump possibly seeking to create legacies through diplomacy over Japan’s head, a Japanese government official said, “We have many things to worry about.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
