Half a Year Since Japanese Minister's Taiwan Contingency Remarks, Japanese Media: Japan-China Thaw Unlikely in Short Term
Half a year has passed since Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response regarding a "Taiwan contingency," during which Japan-China relations have deteriorated. Japanese media indicate that a meeting between Japanese and Chinese leaders this year is generally not expected within the Japanese government, making a thaw in relations unlikely in the short term.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 6th, comprehensive foreign report) Half a year will have passed tomorrow since Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response last year regarding a "Taiwan contingency." During this period, relations between Japan and China have deteriorated. Japanese media point out that within the Japanese government, there is a general pessimism about a meeting between Japanese and Chinese leaders this year, which would thaw relations between the two countries.
Takaichi stated during questioning in the House of Representatives on November 7 last year that if a "Taiwan contingency" (an emergency in Taiwan) involves the use of force by the other party, it could constitute an "existential crisis" that would allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
Kyodo News reported today that Takaichi's remarks provoked a strong protest from Beijing, which viewed them as implying possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. China also further urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, Chinese visitors to Japan from January to March this year decreased by a significant 54.6% compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, since January this year, the Chinese government has continued to strengthen controls on dual-use rare earth goods sold to Japan. A Japanese diplomatic source revealed, "It has not yet posed an existential problem for Japanese companies, but (the relevant regulations) are being tightened step by step."
After Takaichi's "Taiwan contingency" remarks, Japan-China relations fell into a low ebb, with no ministerial-level dialogue, and the stalemate between the two sides continues.
This is also reflected in the 2026 "Diplomatic Bluebook" published by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This new bluebook, which compiles Japan's foreign policy, changed the description of relations with China to "important neighbor," a step backward compared to the 2025 edition's expression of "one of the most important bilateral relationships."
Takaichi is promoting the revision of three security-related documents, hoping to fundamentally strengthen Japan's defense. However, the report analyzes that this move will inevitably make China's attitude even tougher.
Kyodo News points out that a Japan-China summit meeting might break the current stalemate, but within the Japanese government, there is widespread pessimism about whether the leaders of both sides can meet this year. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150506
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 6th, comprehensive foreign report) Half a year will have passed tomorrow since Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's parliamentary response last year regarding a "Taiwan contingency." During this period, relations between Japan and China have deteriorated. Japanese media point out that within the Japanese government, there is a general pessimism about a meeting between Japanese and Chinese leaders this year, which would thaw relations between the two countries.
Takaichi stated during questioning in the House of Representatives on November 7 last year that if a "Taiwan contingency" (an emergency in Taiwan) involves the use of force by the other party, it could constitute an "existential crisis" that would allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
Kyodo News reported today that Takaichi's remarks provoked a strong protest from Beijing, which viewed them as implying possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. China also further urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan. According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, Chinese visitors to Japan from January to March this year decreased by a significant 54.6% compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, since January this year, the Chinese government has continued to strengthen controls on dual-use rare earth goods sold to Japan. A Japanese diplomatic source revealed, "It has not yet posed an existential problem for Japanese companies, but (the relevant regulations) are being tightened step by step."
After Takaichi's "Taiwan contingency" remarks, Japan-China relations fell into a low ebb, with no ministerial-level dialogue, and the stalemate between the two sides continues.
This is also reflected in the 2026 "Diplomatic Bluebook" published by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This new bluebook, which compiles Japan's foreign policy, changed the description of relations with China to "important neighbor," a step backward compared to the 2025 edition's expression of "one of the most important bilateral relationships."
Takaichi is promoting the revision of three security-related documents, hoping to fundamentally strengthen Japan's defense. However, the report analyzes that this move will inevitably make China's attitude even tougher.
Kyodo News points out that a Japan-China summit meeting might break the current stalemate, but within the Japanese government, there is widespread pessimism about whether the leaders of both sides can meet this year. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150506
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.