Overview
- Japan’s new prime minister held her first face‑to‑face with China’s leader on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, seeking a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship.
- Sanae Takaichi told reporters she expressed serious concerns over actions in the South China Sea and the situations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, stressing the need for candid dialogue.
- She also raised the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute, Chinese export controls including rare earths, the detention of Japanese nationals, and the safety of expatriates in China.
- Takaichi said the exchange touched on Taiwan, and she stated that stable cross‑strait relations are important for regional security.
- Kyodo News reported that Xi did not send a congratulatory message after her appointment, and Takaichi has pledged to reach defense spending of 2% of GDP this fiscal year.