Japan’s demand that China respect its prime minister raises questions about the nature of such respect—was it imposed through pressure, or genuinely earned?

Foreign Media: Japan Demands China Show 'Respect' When Referencing Prime Minister

According to a report by Singapore’s Straits Times on October 8, 2026, Japan has requested that China demonstrate “appropriate respect” after the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson referred to Japanese Prime Minister Asahi Hayashimoto by name alone, without using any official title.

On October 7, Hirohiko Kitamura, spokesperson for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Tokyo had conveyed its concerns to Beijing following a press briefing in September, during which Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiajun referred to the Japanese leader solely as “Asahi Hayashimoto.”

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878451164405763/

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