[Edaily Reporter KIM JUNG YOU ] Ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held this month in Shenzhen, China, the Japanese government is making every effort to prevent Chinese President Xi Jinping from “snubbing” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since bilateral relations cooled sharply last year following Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. The Japanese government is laying the groundwork to avoid diplomatic embarrassment on the international stage, ensuring at the very least a customary handshake.

According to a Bloomberg report on the 9th, Japanese officials recently requested assurances from the Chinese side that President Xi would treat Prime Minister Takaichi on an equal footing with other leaders at the upcoming APEC Summit. This includes, for example, at least a customary handshake and standard protocol. The APEC Summit in Shenzhen will be held for two days starting on the 18th.

With bilateral relations having plummeted to their worst level since the normalization of diplomatic ties in 1972, Japan’s sense of vigilance appears to be at an all-time high. Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, told Bloomberg, “Over the past year, China has stepped up its offensive against Japan, and a significant portion of that has focused on demonizing Prime Minister Takaichi to an unprecedented degree,” adding, “It has become increasingly likely that China will seek opportunities at APEC to downgrade Prime Minister Takaichi’s status or criticize Japan in order to humiliate her personally.”

In fact, President Xi previously drew attention by publicly rebuking then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 2022 G20 Summit in Indonesia. Seating arrangements and group photos are also cited as potential points where Prime Minister Takaichi could be sidelined.

The conflict stems from Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. Last November, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an “existential crisis” for Japan. This came just one week after she had met with President Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea. In response, China effectively blocked rare earth exports to Japan, advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, and restricted imports of Japanese seafood. Although it is reported that President Xi personally demanded that the remarks be retracted, Prime Minister Takaichi refused and has continued to take steps to strengthen national security.

Observers believe the likelihood of a bilateral summit between the two leaders is currently low. Any contact between the two leaders is expected to be limited to ceremonial interactions within official events, such as the leaders’ dinner where President Xi hosts heads of state from various countries. During the 2014 APEC summit in Beijing, President Xi shook hands with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, paving the way for improved relations; however, that encounter had been preceded by months of behind-the-scenes coordination. This time, however, it is reported that no such exchanges have taken place.

According to Bloomberg News, when former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda passed away last month, President Xi bypassed Prime Minister Takaichi and sent a condolence message directly to the bereaved family. The Komeito Party, which had served as a bridge during the 2014 talks due to its pro-China stance, also withdrew from the coalition government following the formation of the Takaichi administration.

Consequently, concerns have been raised that Prime Minister Takaichi’s isolation could become more pronounced. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold trilateral talks with President Xi at this APEC summit. This marks the first time since World War II that the leaders of the three major nuclear powers have gathered in one place. It is reported that Prime Minister Takaichi will meet with President Trump at the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, immediately prior to APEC, to convey a message ensuring that Japan’s interests are not sacrificed in U.S.-China negotiations. Some observers have also raised the possibility of a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Chang.

Masaki Taniguchi, a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo, commented, “While there is no reason for Japan to unnecessarily provoke China, conversely, there is absolutely no reason for Japan to kowtow to China.”