Early Sino-Japanese talks show signs of giving up, one year after Prime Minister Takaichi's ``Taiwan emergency'' statement

The 7th marks the one year anniversary of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement regarding the Taiwan emergency situation, saying that it could become an existential crisis. The Japanese government is emphasizing its stance of maintaining its stance since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1972 and is waiting for the situation to calm down, while China is demanding a retraction of its statement. With no hint of improvement in sight, there is a feeling of giving up on holding a summit meeting to coincide with an international conference to be held in China starting on the 18th.

"China is an important neighbor. We will promote mutually beneficial strategic relations and build constructive and stable relations." The Prime Minister was asked about his remarks by reporters on the 6th, and he reiterated his previous explanation.

At the House of Representatives Budget Committee on November 7 last year, the Prime Minister stated that the Taiwanese emergency ``could'' become an existential crisis in which the Self-Defense Forces could exercise the right of collective self-defense. China's Xi Jinping administration, which views Taiwan as a ``core interest,'' vehemently objected to the statement, which deviated from the line of defense given by past prime ministers. The government continues to put pressure on Japan by calling for people to refrain from traveling to Japan and tightening restrictions on exports of rare earths to Japan.

Immediately after making the emergency statement, the Prime Minister explained at the Budget Committee meeting, ``From now on, I will refrain from making clear statements about specific cases.'' At a press conference on the 6th of this month, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara referred to the 1972 Japan-China joint statement that clearly stated that China "fully understands and respects" China's claims regarding Taiwan, and said, "There will be no changes." The conservatives who support the prime minister are highly wary of China. It appears that he is concerned that if he retracts his statement, he may disappoint his supporters.

The Chinese side is stubborn. Former Liberal Democratic Party Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who visited China in September, proposed to Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo and Foreign Minister, that the joint statement be ``de facto withdrawn'' by confirming its purpose. Wang once again called for a withdrawal, saying, ``Japan's leaders should resolve this.''

The prime minister will visit China on the 18th and 19th to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting. As chairman, Mr. Xi usually holds talks with the leaders of other countries. At the same summit held in Beijing in 2014, the Japan-China summit was held despite some friction, such as then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine.

However, a senior Japanese government official pointed out that ``China's stance remains harsh.'' A senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, ``There will probably be no summit meeting. Things will be tough during the Takaichi administration.''