Japan PM Sanae Takaichi plans first China visit for Shenzhen APEC summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to travel to China next week to take part in an Asia-Pacific summit, marking her first visit to the country since assuming leadership in October last year.

Government officials in Tokyo confirmed on Friday that Takaichi will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Shenzhen. Her regional tour, running from Nov. 16 to Nov. 19, will also include a stop in the Philippines for meetings connected to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The upcoming visit unfolds amid heightened diplomatic strain between Tokyo and Beijing. Friction intensified following comments made by Takaichi late last year implying that Japan could get involved if an offensive were launched against Taiwan, an island Beijing claims as part of its territory. In response, China warned its citizens regarding travel to Japan and introduced trade measures that significantly reduced shipments of crucial rare earth elements to Japanese companies.

During the Shenzhen gathering, Takaichi plans to address topics including regional economic integration, commerce, investment, energy security, and digital economic developments, according to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki. Officials are also working to coordinate a meeting of the Quad group—comprising leaders from Japan, the United States, Australia, and India—alongside the ASEAN events in Manila.

Diplomatic observers expect significant scrutiny surrounding whether Takaichi will interact with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit. However, analysts consider a formal one-on-one bilateral session between the two heads of government to be highly doubtful.

Bilateral communication has remained severely constrained, with Beijing previously declining ministerial-level dialogue with the current Japanese administration. Despite the friction, subtle signals have emerged recently. Takaichi described China as an important neighbor during a policy speech last month, expressing interest in cultivating stable ties while promising to defend Japan's stances and urge responsible conduct.

Meanwhile, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi commented in September that bilateral relations were awaiting normalization during a meeting with former Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya, who led a commercial delegation to Beijing. Xi also recently conveyed condolences following the death of former Japanese leader Yasuo Fukuda, highlighting his past contributions as a longstanding partner.