Takaichi Calls China 'Important Neighbour', Sidesteps Taiwan — SkimNews
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- Takaichi called China an 'important neighbour' in her Oct 5 parliamentary address, pledging to build a 'constructive and stable relationship' while simultaneously listing concerns including East and South China Sea disputes and Chinese military activity around Japan.
- Taiwan was conspicuously absent from the speech, but analysts said the omission was unsurprising and does not signal a policy shift — Takaichi has refused to retract her November remarks that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a 'survival-threatening situation' warranting a Japanese military response.
- The 'important neighbour' phrase echoes language Takaichi used after taking office in October 2024 and already appears in various Japanese foreign policy documents, according to University of Tokyo professor Shin Kawashima, suggesting continuity rather than a new approach.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met former Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing in late September alongside a 50-member business delegation — the highest-level Chinese reception of a Japanese politician in nearly a year, with Wang saying ties were 'waiting to be normalised again'.
- Chinese state media accused Takaichi of 'diplomatic hypocrisy', with CGTN columnist Xu Ying arguing her conciliatory language was at odds with Tokyo's actions on security and Taiwan, while analysts noted Beijing has shown no sign of unwinding economic countermeasures including rare earth export curbs and travel warnings.
- Experts from RSIS, NUS, and the East Asia Institute agreed a genuine thaw is unlikely while Japan holds its Taiwan position, with attention now turning to the APEC Summit in Shenzhen, which Takaichi is expected to attend.
Why it matters: Takaichi's refusal to retract her November Taiwan remarks — which Beijing has demanded — keeps a hard ceiling on how far ties can improve, even as both sides exchange diplomatic courtesies. Beijing's economic countermeasures, including rare earth export curbs and tourism warnings, remain in place with no sign of removal, so Japanese businesses hoping for normalization still face the same trade barriers despite softer language from Tokyo.
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