Takaichi plans China trip for APEC, subject to parliament
The summit is scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, but a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping remains uncertain.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has told lawmakers she intends to travel to China for the APEC leaders summit, provided parliament permits her attendance. The gathering is scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 in Shenzhen.
Her remarks came during parliamentary questions about foreign policy and crisis management. Relations between Japan and China remain strained nearly a year after her comments about Taiwan heightened tensions. It remains unclear whether Chinese leader Xi Jinping will meet with her during the summit.
Takaichi is also facing opposition criticism over her handling of agriculture minister Kazuo Yana’s resignation, the first scandal-related Cabinet departure of her administration. Media reports alleged electoral rule violations and said he had boasted about reducing funding for municipalities that did not back his February campaign.
Yana denied any breach of the law and said he wanted to avoid disrupting parliamentary business and ministerial work. Takaichi initially defended him but accepted his departure before the submission of a bill to suspend the sales tax.