Japanese Minister Expected to Visit China for First Time Since PM's 'Taiwan Contingency' Remarks
Japanese Minister Hitoshi Kawakita announced he is coordinating to attend the APEC 'Women and the Economy Forum' in Shanghai. If the visit materializes, he would be the first Japanese minister to visit China since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's 'Taiwan contingency' remarks last year.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 15:11
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Central News
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 12, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Japanese Minister Hitoshi Kawakita stated today that he is coordinating to travel to Shanghai to attend a ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). If this visit materializes, he will be the first Japanese minister to visit China since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's 'Taiwan contingency' remarks last year.
According to NHK, China will host the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November this year and plans to hold the 'Women and the Economy Forum' in Shanghai starting on the 15th of this month, as the first ministerial-level meeting of APEC this year.
Japanese Minister for Children's Policies, Hitoshi Kawakita, also has responsibilities related to policies for gender equality. He stated at a press conference after a cabinet meeting today, "If various circumstances permit, we are coordinating to attend the 'Women and the Economy Forum'."
He also said, "If I can attend this meeting, I will directly convey our country's policies related to women's empowerment to relevant ministers of APEC member economies and others, and hope to share various issues with countries and regions. This meeting will be a meaningful opportunity for in-depth discussions."
Last year, Takaichi stated during questioning in the House of Representatives that if a 'Taiwan contingency' (an emergency in Taiwan) involves the use of force by the other party, it could constitute a 'situation threatening Japan's survival' that would allow Japan to exercise collective self-defense. Beijing strongly protested this, viewing it as an implication of possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Japan-China relations have since deteriorated, with no ministerial-level dialogue taking place.
Kyodo News Chinese website reported today that exchanges between Japan and China have significantly decreased since the stalemate in relations, but the Japan-China Economic Association revealed that it still hopes to maintain relations by dispatching small inspection teams.
The Japan-China Economic Association recently gathered about 30 members from manufacturers, trading companies, and other enterprises, and began a five-day visit to China yesterday, planning to visit robot research and development and application sites in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The Japan-China Economic Association, the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry had originally planned to visit China in January this year, but Takaichi's remarks caused strong dissatisfaction from Beijing, leading to the postponement of the visit, and there is currently no clear schedule for the trip. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150512
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo, May 12, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Japanese Minister Hitoshi Kawakita stated today that he is coordinating to travel to Shanghai to attend a ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). If this visit materializes, he will be the first Japanese minister to visit China since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's 'Taiwan contingency' remarks last year.
According to NHK, China will host the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November this year and plans to hold the 'Women and the Economy Forum' in Shanghai starting on the 15th of this month, as the first ministerial-level meeting of APEC this year.
Japanese Minister for Children's Policies, Hitoshi Kawakita, also has responsibilities related to policies for gender equality. He stated at a press conference after a cabinet meeting today, "If various circumstances permit, we are coordinating to attend the 'Women and the Economy Forum'."
He also said, "If I can attend this meeting, I will directly convey our country's policies related to women's empowerment to relevant ministers of APEC member economies and others, and hope to share various issues with countries and regions. This meeting will be a meaningful opportunity for in-depth discussions."
Last year, Takaichi stated during questioning in the House of Representatives that if a 'Taiwan contingency' (an emergency in Taiwan) involves the use of force by the other party, it could constitute a 'situation threatening Japan's survival' that would allow Japan to exercise collective self-defense. Beijing strongly protested this, viewing it as an implication of possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. Japan-China relations have since deteriorated, with no ministerial-level dialogue taking place.
Kyodo News Chinese website reported today that exchanges between Japan and China have significantly decreased since the stalemate in relations, but the Japan-China Economic Association revealed that it still hopes to maintain relations by dispatching small inspection teams.
The Japan-China Economic Association recently gathered about 30 members from manufacturers, trading companies, and other enterprises, and began a five-day visit to China yesterday, planning to visit robot research and development and application sites in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The Japan-China Economic Association, the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry had originally planned to visit China in January this year, but Takaichi's remarks caused strong dissatisfaction from Beijing, leading to the postponement of the visit, and there is currently no clear schedule for the trip. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.