Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and voiced “serious concerns” over the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang. She described their first official exchange as “candid.”

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. It was the first face-to-face talk between the two leaders since Takaichi assumed office. The meeting also followed separate talks that both leaders held recently with US President Donald Trump.

Japan Seeks Balanced Ties but Highlights Disputes

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Takaichi said, “I told President Xi that I wanted a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China.” She added that she raised “a number of thorny issues,” stressing the need for “direct, candid dialogue.”

According to Chinese state media, Xi responded by expressing hope that Takaichi’s government would have a “correct understanding” of China.

Takaichi, known for her conservative stance and strong views on China, has long supported Taiwan and made several visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead. These visits often anger Beijing and Seoul.

Concerns Over Human Rights and Territorial Disputes

Takaichi said, “We… expressed serious concerns regarding actions in the South China Sea, as well as the situations in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.”

Beijing, however, continues to deny accusations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs. China insists its policies in Xinjiang aim to curb extremism and promote development.

Despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that rejected its claims, China still asserts sweeping sovereignty over the South China Sea.

Takaichi also raised the Senkaku Islands dispute — known in China as Diaoyu — where ships from both nations frequently confront each other.

She voiced concerns about export restrictions on rare earth minerals and urged China to release detained Japanese citizens, asking for safety assurances for others living there. “I conveyed that we would like these matters to be addressed,” she said.

Taiwan and Regional Stability

Takaichi confirmed that Taiwan came up during the talks. “Regarding Taiwan, there was some discussion from the Chinese side,” she said. She added, “I stated that for the stability and security in this region, maintaining good cross-strait relations is important.”

Xi, meanwhile, told Takaichi that Tokyo should continue pursuing “peaceful, friendly, and cooperative bilateral relations.”
According to Xinhua, Xi also reminded Japan to “adhere to and fulfil clear provisions on major issues such as history” as outlined in earlier political agreements.

Japan’s Defence Shift and Regional Dynamics

Visits to the Yasukuni Shrine — which also commemorates war criminals — have long drawn anger from China and South Korea. Takaichi, a protégé of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been a frequent visitor to the shrine.

As a close US ally, Japan has significantly strengthened its defence posture in recent years. It has boosted military spending and developed counter-strike capabilities. Nearly 60,000 US troops are currently stationed in Japan.

Earlier this week, Takaichi met President Trump aboard an American aircraft carrier. She announced that Japan would increase defence spending to 2% of GDP this fiscal year, two years earlier than planned.

Before the talks, University of Tokyo professor Yee Kuang Heng told AFP that “it could be a frosty get-to-know-you meeting as Xi Jinping has not sent a congratulatory message to Takaichi, wary of her reputation as a China hawk.” However, he added, “Overall though, stability is a shared priority.”