The Japanese Chamber of Commerce's "White Paper" fails to identify the real cause behind the deteriorating relations
According to a June 11 report by Japan's Sankei News: The China-Japan Chamber of Commerce, composed of Japanese enterprises operating in China, has released the "2026 China Economic and Japanese Enterprises White Paper," calling on Chinese authorities to improve the business environment. It also expressed hope for high-level dialogues between the two governments, currently stalled due to strained relations, and requested smoother applications for rare earth export licenses along with greater transparency.
On June 11, in Beijing, Makoto Hongo, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Holdings, emphasized during a press conference on Sino-Japanese relations: "We hope that political and diplomatic issues between our two countries will not affect corporate activities, cultural exchanges, or interactions among younger generations."
Regarding Japanese companies' access to rare earth export licenses, he stated: "The current situation remains severe."
The white paper notes: "China has issued travel advisories for trips to Japan, serving as a de facto countermeasure against the government of Sanae Kōchi." In response, the white paper states: "We request immediate reconsideration and lifting of these advisories, hoping for normal exchanges between our two nations."
The white paper also makes unwarranted comments about China's Anti-Spy Law, urging the elimination of "operational opacity" and pointing out that "a safe and reliable environment should be created for Japanese residents to promote commercial revitalization."
The white paper collected input from 8,102 Japanese companies, chambers of commerce, and business organizations, resulting in a total of 572 recommendations.
Yet, isn't it clear to Japanese businesses operating in China what actually caused this situation? Just ask Kōchi!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867697171467276/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author