Takaichi’s Taiwan Remark Marks One Year, Japan-China Ties Still Frozen

Saturday marks the first anniversary of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comment on a Taiwan crisis — a remark that angered Beijing, stalled bilateral diplomacy and left Tokyo leaning on its alliance with Washington rather than any direct overture to China.

No direct outreach from Tokyo

Takaichi has not extended diplomatic gestures toward Beijing in the year since the November 2025 remark, according to the report, instead relying on US diplomacy to manage Japan’s position in a deteriorating security environment. That approach has kept the two governments at a distance even as Tokyo faces growing regional pressures.

China’s response has been consistent and pointed. Beijing courted a former Japanese foreign minister in what observers described as a pressure play against Takaichi, and the Chinese city of Dalian scrapped a Japan goods expo, citing the chill in bilateral ties. Chinese state media also criticised scenes from a Japanese television drama, saying they “stoke hostility” — a sign that the dispute has extended well beyond the original diplomatic flashpoint.

Xi keeps Japan guessing ahead of APEC

The impasse has carried into multilateral settings. Chinese President Xi Jinping left Japan uncertain about whether a bilateral summit would take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, according to earlier reporting, adding another layer of uncertainty to a relationship that had already lost momentum.

Takaichi met Xi approximately one week before making the Taiwan remark in November 2025, according to the report — a timeline that underlines how quickly the relationship soured following her comment.

A bilateral relationship under sustained strain

The range of friction points illustrates how broadly the dispute has spread. What began as a diplomatic protest over a single statement has since affected trade events, media relations and summit diplomacy. Senior US officials have separately called for a stronger Japan alliance for the purpose of deterrence, a framing that reflects the security backdrop against which the Japan-China standoff is unfolding.

Takaichi has not publicly backed away from her position, and Beijing has shown no indication it is prepared to set aside the original grievance. As the dispute enters its second year, both governments appear locked into postures that leave little room for near-term reconciliation, based on the available record.