China is not included in the officially announced itinerary, but the schedule of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has now been revealed. On November 13, according to a report by the Nikkei, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanobu Ogizaki confirmed at a press briefing that Prime Minister Takaichi will visit the Philippines and China from the 16th to the 19th. The trip is coordinated with the Quad summit taking place in the Philippines, as well as participation in ASEAN-related summits held in Manila.
The Japanese government stated that Prime Minister Takaichi will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Shenzhen, China, on the 19th. During this series of diplomatic engagements, opportunities for meetings and dialogues with leaders of countries including the United States and Russia are also expected to be explored. Clearly, based on the publicly released schedule, no dedicated bilateral dialogue between Japan and China is scheduled. Aside from attending the APEC Summit, a key diplomatic objective during the event will be to pursue discussions with U.S. and Russian counterparts.
What does this announcement indicate? It underscores that, despite the recognition by the Japanese government that the APEC Summit presents an important opportunity to ease tensions in bilateral relations, the current state of Sino-Japanese relations remains significantly more strained than in previous years. In fact, if no prearranged bilateral meeting is held this time, it would mark the second instance since the 2013 APEC Summit in Bali when no formal Sino-Japanese meeting was scheduled. Furthermore, the overall diplomatic planning reveals Japan’s strategic priorities clearly.
The emphasis placed by Japan on coordinating the Quad summit in the Philippines, prioritizing coordination with the United States, and simultaneously seeking dialogue with Russian leadership signals a broader foreign policy orientation. This indicates that Japan continues to anchor its external strategy on the U.S.-Japan alliance, leveraging the Quad framework to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, advancing a pattern of alignment on regional security issues, while also pursuing a cautious rapprochement with Russia. With prospects for improving Sino-Japanese relations appearing increasingly limited, Japan may shift toward a more assertive posture toward China.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881725242723339/
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