Half a Year Since Japan's Minister Responded on Taiwan Contingency; Japanese Media: Many Factors Hinder Japan-China Dialogue
Half a year has passed since Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's response regarding a 'Taiwan contingency,' and Japan-China relations have deteriorated. Japanese media analyze multiple factors hindering dialogue, including the lack of meetings with Chinese dignitaries during LDP officials' visits and Komeito's withdrawal from the coalition.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 12:59
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Central News Agency (Tokyo 7th, comprehensive foreign report) - Half a year has passed today since Japanese Minister Sanae Takaichi's response last year regarding a 'Taiwan contingency.' During this period, Japan-China relations have deteriorated, and Japan's parliamentary diplomacy has struggled to make progress. Japanese media analyze from multiple perspectives the various factors currently obstructing communication channels between the two countries.
Nikkei Inc. reported that Takaichi stated in a House of Representatives interpellation on November 7, 2025, that a 'Taiwan contingency' (an emergency in Taiwan) could constitute a 'situation threatening Japan's survival,' allowing Japan to exercise collective self-defense. Beijing authorities were highly displeased with this remark, believing it implied potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, leading to a deterioration in bilateral relations.
● LDP Executive's Visit to China: Unusually No Meeting with Local Dignitaries
Katsunobu Nishimura, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee, visited Beijing earlier this month to observe robot development and autonomous driving sites, but no meeting with CCP or Chinese government officials was arranged. The report noted that it is unusual for a Japanese ruling party delegation visiting overseas not to meet with local dignitaries.
Contact between Japan's cross-party Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League and China is currently limited to informal settings. Yu Moriyama, former Secretary-General of the LDP and chairman of the league, met with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao in April, but Moriyama later told those around him that China's stance towards Japan had 'become tougher.'
Furthermore, the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League did not send a delegation during Japan's consecutive holidays from late April to early May. This contrasts with late April last year, when a cross-party delegation including Moriyama visited Beijing. An executive of the league revealed, 'If the Takaichi government does not first signal a direction for dialogue, parliamentary diplomacy cannot move forward.'
● Takaichi's Tenuous Relationship with the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League
The report indicates no clear signs of cooperation between the Japanese government and the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League. One reason suggested is that many core members of the league do not have deep ties with the Prime Minister.
Moriyama resigned from his position as an executive of the LDP's Tax System Research Commission after the Takaichi government took office. It is widely believed that this was due to differences in their fiscal policy stances; Yuko Obuchi, Secretary-General of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, held important party positions during the Shigeru Ishiba administration but is no longer among them.
An executive of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League believes, 'The Chinese side is also concerned that public contact with Japan could invite domestic criticism.'
● Komeito Withdraws from Ruling Coalition
During the Abe administration, Komeito's communication channels with China were effectively utilized. Komeito regularly sent delegations to China and met with high-ranking officials from Xi Jinping's team. In January 2013, then-Komeito representative Natsuo Yamaguchi visited China shortly after the Abe government took office, and in 2015, he facilitated a Japan-China summit.
However, Komeito withdrew from the 'LDP-Komeito' ruling coalition in October last year, citing insufficient answers to 'politics and money' issues. The LDP then formed a coalition government with the 'Japan Innovation Party.'
Professor Shin Kawashima of the University of Tokyo points out, 'Komeito's withdrawal from the coalition government clearly deprived Japan and China of an important communication channel.'
● US-China Rapprochement Amidst Strained Japan-China Relations
US President Trump is expected to visit Beijing in mid-month. Republican Senator Steve Daines has already visited China this week, meeting with Chinese authorities, ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
Nikkei Inc. notes that while Japan and China struggle to find a breakthrough in improving relations, a scenario of US-China rapprochement is gradually emerging.
In the short term, ministerial-level officials from Japan and China still have opportunities to meet at international conferences, which could serve as an opportunity to restart dialogue. For example, Japanese cabinet member Hitoshi Kikawada is evaluating attending a ministerial-level meeting on women's policy in Shanghai in mid-month.
Additionally, this year's APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November, and Takaichi is expected to attend.
The interaction between Japanese and Chinese officials at that time will also be a focal point. (Compiler: Yang Weijing) 1150507
Nikkei Inc. reported that Takaichi stated in a House of Representatives interpellation on November 7, 2025, that a 'Taiwan contingency' (an emergency in Taiwan) could constitute a 'situation threatening Japan's survival,' allowing Japan to exercise collective self-defense. Beijing authorities were highly displeased with this remark, believing it implied potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, leading to a deterioration in bilateral relations.
● LDP Executive's Visit to China: Unusually No Meeting with Local Dignitaries
Katsunobu Nishimura, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee, visited Beijing earlier this month to observe robot development and autonomous driving sites, but no meeting with CCP or Chinese government officials was arranged. The report noted that it is unusual for a Japanese ruling party delegation visiting overseas not to meet with local dignitaries.
Contact between Japan's cross-party Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League and China is currently limited to informal settings. Yu Moriyama, former Secretary-General of the LDP and chairman of the league, met with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao in April, but Moriyama later told those around him that China's stance towards Japan had 'become tougher.'
Furthermore, the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League did not send a delegation during Japan's consecutive holidays from late April to early May. This contrasts with late April last year, when a cross-party delegation including Moriyama visited Beijing. An executive of the league revealed, 'If the Takaichi government does not first signal a direction for dialogue, parliamentary diplomacy cannot move forward.'
● Takaichi's Tenuous Relationship with the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League
The report indicates no clear signs of cooperation between the Japanese government and the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League. One reason suggested is that many core members of the league do not have deep ties with the Prime Minister.
Moriyama resigned from his position as an executive of the LDP's Tax System Research Commission after the Takaichi government took office. It is widely believed that this was due to differences in their fiscal policy stances; Yuko Obuchi, Secretary-General of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, held important party positions during the Shigeru Ishiba administration but is no longer among them.
An executive of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League believes, 'The Chinese side is also concerned that public contact with Japan could invite domestic criticism.'
● Komeito Withdraws from Ruling Coalition
During the Abe administration, Komeito's communication channels with China were effectively utilized. Komeito regularly sent delegations to China and met with high-ranking officials from Xi Jinping's team. In January 2013, then-Komeito representative Natsuo Yamaguchi visited China shortly after the Abe government took office, and in 2015, he facilitated a Japan-China summit.
However, Komeito withdrew from the 'LDP-Komeito' ruling coalition in October last year, citing insufficient answers to 'politics and money' issues. The LDP then formed a coalition government with the 'Japan Innovation Party.'
Professor Shin Kawashima of the University of Tokyo points out, 'Komeito's withdrawal from the coalition government clearly deprived Japan and China of an important communication channel.'
● US-China Rapprochement Amidst Strained Japan-China Relations
US President Trump is expected to visit Beijing in mid-month. Republican Senator Steve Daines has already visited China this week, meeting with Chinese authorities, ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.
Nikkei Inc. notes that while Japan and China struggle to find a breakthrough in improving relations, a scenario of US-China rapprochement is gradually emerging.
In the short term, ministerial-level officials from Japan and China still have opportunities to meet at international conferences, which could serve as an opportunity to restart dialogue. For example, Japanese cabinet member Hitoshi Kikawada is evaluating attending a ministerial-level meeting on women's policy in Shanghai in mid-month.
Additionally, this year's APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November, and Takaichi is expected to attend.
The interaction between Japanese and Chinese officials at that time will also be a focal point. (Compiler: Yang Weijing) 1150507