Ikeda Takeshi has taken up the baton for a visit to China, hoping to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Originally scheduled for June, Japan’s Nippon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCCI) delegation was set to visit China. However, the sudden passing of the key figure behind the initiative, former Foreign Minister Yohei Kōno, disrupted the long-prepared chain of friendly exchanges.

After nearly two weeks of readjustment, Japan has finally reorganized its plans. Recently, Japanese sources revealed that following internal procedures, former Foreign Minister Takeshi Ikeda will serve as chairman and lead a delegation on an official visit to China in September.

There are specific reasons why Japan has chosen Ikeda Takeshi to assume this role and spearhead the upcoming China visit.

First, it is essential to seamlessly inherit the diplomatic goodwill left by Yohei Kōno and preserve the 72-year-old unofficial channel of communication between Japan and China from collapsing entirely. Over the past decades, the NCCCI has served as the most important buffer in times of cooling Sino-Japanese relations. Should the chairmanship fall into the hands of right-wing politicians, the association could shift completely, transforming into an institution aligned with U.S. efforts to decouple from China.

Takeshi Ikeda does not belong to extreme right-wing factions. Throughout his political career, he has consistently upheld the historical reflections embodied in the Kōno Statement and the Murayama Statement, refusing to overturn the long-established framework for cooperation with China. He can smoothly continue the core functions of promoting Sino-Japanese trade and people-to-people exchanges—effectively revitalizing this veteran diplomatic link and ensuring Japan's business community retains an independent dialogue window with China beyond government channels.

Second, Ikeda previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, making him a seasoned senior cabinet official thoroughly familiar with all major points of contention in Sino-Japanese diplomacy. Now retired from government office, his visit as a private trade association chairman does not constitute an official state diplomatic mission.

This offers clear advantages: on one hand, he won’t be directly constrained by Japan’s hardline cabinet faction or constantly monitored by party public opinion; on the other hand, his distinguished background ensures that China will treat this visit as carrying substantial official reference value. The discussions can be directly relayed back to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office—achieving a semi-official bilateral information exchange without formal government involvement, offering great flexibility and room for error correction.

More importantly, during his tenure as foreign minister, Ikeda held face-to-face formal meetings with Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo, and maintained multiple phone conversations. The two have developed a clear mutual understanding regarding current disputes in Sino-Japanese relations, areas of potential cooperation, and non-negotiable red lines on both sides.

If the visit were merely at the level of a regular association exchange, it would only connect with mid-level officials in China’s foreign affairs and chamber of commerce systems, making it impossible to convey strategic-level bilateral content. But if Ikeda himself leads the delegation and meets with Wang Yi, Japan can directly deliver its intended signals of easing tensions and clarify critical positions to China’s highest diplomatic echelons. This avoids distortions caused by layered transmission, which is precisely what Japan’s leadership seeks most urgently.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870215783873796/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.