Japanese government officials have reportedly not been invited to this year's Xiangshan Forum, a major multilateral security conference hosted by China. As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit approaches in November, Japanese political and business leaders are making visits to China. However, relations between Japan and China remain strained following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
According to the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, no Japanese government representatives were invited to this year's Xiangshan Forum, which runs from September 15 to 17 in Beijing. The Japanese defense attaché in China will also not attend. Last year, both the defense attaché and a researcher from the Japan Defense Research Institute participated. This year, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and other private individuals from Japan are expected to attend.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the forum. Reuters reports that he may emphasize a multipolar international order and cooperation while indirectly criticizing the United States and its allies. However, with a U.S.-China summit approaching at the end of the month, direct criticism of the U.S. is expected to be avoided, while Japan may face stronger criticism due to recent tensions.
Relations between Japan and China deteriorated sharply last November after Takaichi stated that Japan's existence could be threatened in a Taiwan contingency. China has strongly opposed this statement and has demanded that Japan retract it.
The cooling of relations is evident not only in security matters but also in cultural exchanges. According to Japan's Kyodo News, the 'Tokyo-China Film Week,' held annually in Tokyo every October, has been canceled this year. Additionally, Japanese film events were not held at the Beijing International Film Festival in April or the Shanghai International Film Festival in June.
Amid these strained relations, Japanese political and business leaders are making efforts to improve ties with China. This is seen as a move to create a favorable atmosphere ahead of a potential meeting between Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), eight junior lawmakers from Japan's bipartisan 'Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary Alliance' began a three-day visit to China on September 13. Later this month, a delegation from the Japan International Trade Promotion Association (JAPIT), led by former Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, is set to visit China from September 27 to 30 to seek a meeting with Xi. Japan's largest business groups, including Keidanren and the Kansai Economic Federation, are also planning visits to China in the coming months.
Wang Guangtao, a professor of Japanese studies at Fudan University, told SCMP that these visits aim to create a favorable atmosphere for a potential Japan-China summit during the APEC meeting in November. However, he expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these efforts, given the significance of Takaichi's comments regarding Taiwan.
Takaichi is expected to attend the APEC summit in November, but it remains uncertain whether a meeting with Xi will take place. The Chinese side has indicated that Japan must demonstrate a clearer change in its stance and actions regarding the Taiwan issue. As a result, it may be challenging to find a breakthrough in bilateral relations through increased exchanges at the parliamentary or business levels alone.
SCMP also noted that the weakening of Japan's diplomatic connections with China is another factor complicating efforts to improve relations. The departure of veteran politicians like former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, who maintained close ties with China, has left a gap that younger politicians have not filled with informal high-level diplomatic channels.
Furthermore, deteriorating public opinion towards China in Japan has made it politically burdensome for Japanese politicians to pursue improved relations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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