Overview
- After a concentrated week at APEC in Gyeongju, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi completed first‑time summit talks with the United States, South Korea and China and returned to Tokyo.
- At a Nov. 1 news conference, she said she has no time to think about dissolving the House of Representatives and stressed moving pledged policies forward.
- In her meeting with Xi Jinping, she conveyed concerns over coercive behavior in the East China Sea, the detention of Japanese nationals and Chinese rare‑earth export controls.
- In a separate Gyeongju meeting, Xi and South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung agreed to strengthen strategic communication and expand cooperation in areas such as AI, with a focus on tackling online gambling and special fraud.
- October polling by the Mainichi showed 65% approval for the Takaichi cabinet, yet major diplomatic tests remain on stabilizing ties with China, managing alliance defense expectations and addressing North Korea.