China-Japan summit unlikely at APEC amid continued tensions
A Xi–Takaichi bilateral at the Nov. 18–19 APEC summit in Shenzhen looks unlikely as China, citing heightened tensions, demands Japan’s leader retract Taiwan-related remarks, though Takaichi will still attend.
- Asia
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 04:05 PM 10 November 2026
A bilateral summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears unlikely on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Shenzhen, China, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported Tuesday.
Takaichi will travel to China for the APEC summit next week, scheduled for Nov. 18-19.
Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo remain heightened following Takaichi's remarks regarding Taiwan.
China continues to take a hard line over Takaichi's parliamentary remarks concerning a possible Taiwan contingency, demanding that the Japanese leader retract her statement before bilateral talks can proceed.
Takaichi said last year that any Chinese military move against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" allowing Japan to "exercise its right to collective self-defense."
She later declined to retract her statement, telling lawmakers she had spoken "under the assumption of a worst-case scenario."
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