Japan to Seek Thaw with China as Key Diplomatic Theme in 2026

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–The major focus in Japan’s diplomacy this year is whether the country can improve its relations with China, which have been strained due to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark over a possible Taiwan contingency. As part of the efforts, Tokyo is exploring an opportunity for Takaichi to hold dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But things will not be easy. Stabilizing the Japan-U.S. relationship is also important for the Takaichi administration in terms of dealing with China. “The door (for dialogue) with China is not closed, and we will respond appropriately from the perspective of protecting the national interest…and the lives of the people,” Takaichi said in an address in Tokyo on Dec. 25, stressing that Japan is ready to hold a bilateral summit with China. Last November, Takaichi, who took office in October, said in a parliamentary meeting that China’s possible use of force against Taiwan could constitute a so-called survival-threatening situation for Japan, allowing the country to exercise its right to collective self-defense. The remark infuriated Beijing and rapidly cooled the Sino-Japanese relationship, which had been on an improving trend, with China urging its citizens not to travel to Japan and reinstating its import ban on Japanese fisheries products. “We are keeping in touch (with China) on all levels,” Takaichi has said. But bilateral contact has been limited to the working level in reality, however. China has been repeatedly telling the international community that it will not allow the resurgence of militarism in Japan. Under the circumstances, Japan would likely be unable to hold talks at the ministerial or higher level anytime soon. Still, Tokyo is seeking dialogue with Beijing on the occasion of international gatherings, seeing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in China in November especially as a good opportunity for a summit between the two countries. Takaichi has no intention to withdraw her Taiwan contingency remark in question, however. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official says that the Japan-China relations will likely remain stalled for an extended period. Japan attaches importance to relations with the United States in dealing with China. Takaichi hopes to visit the United States in March for the first time since taking office, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China in April, to coordinate their countries’ policies toward China. In telephone talks Friday, Takaichi and Trump agreed to work on arranging the Japanese leader’s visit to the United States for spring this year. But Trump has so far remained silent on the Japan-China confrontation. Some in the Japanese government speculate that Trump hopes to avoid making waves since he apparently aims to strike a deal with China in the economic field ahead of the midterm elections in November. In relations with the United States, Washington’s pressure for a hike in Japan’s defense spending is a source of concern for Tokyo. The Trump administration, which has clarified its intention to seek an increase in Japan’s defense budget, looks certain to boost its pressure as the Japanese government plans to update its three key national security-related documents within 2026. Also, Japan and the United States are set to begin full-scale negotiations on renewing a bilateral accord on Japan’s host-nation support for U.S. troops stationed in the East Asian country, which is set to expire at the end of March. Takaichi aims to advance the free and open Indo-Pacific vision, advocated by her mentor, the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. As part of the moves, Takaichi plans to invite South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to her home prefecture of Nara in western Japan in the middle of this month to strengthen Japan-South Korea relations. Takaichi is then slated to welcome Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Japan later in January and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in February, fully kicking off her multifaceted diplomacy. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]