Ishiba’s Opportunity for Diplomacy with Major Powers

Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, revealed his hope to have a summit meeting with President of China, Xi Jinping, taking opportunity of the leaders meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Peru later this month. It will be the first opportunity for Ishiba to participate in a major diplomatic event after he sworn in as the prime minister in October. In the meeting with Xi, Ishiba hopes to find a solution on bilateral issues such as China’s import ban on foods from Japan.

Ishiba revealed that the government of Japan was coordinating a summit meeting with Xi or the President of the United States, Joe Biden, in the backdrop of APEC Summit, if he would be reelected as the prime minister in the Diet session scheduled to be convoked on November 11th.

 

Although the leading coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito does not have simple majority in the House of Representatives, it is likely that Ishiba will win the election for nominating the prime minister at least in the run-off. “The war in Ukraine has not finished even though it entered its third year. North Korea launched a missile to the highest altitude, which could reach the United States. I will consider how Japan should do in this situation,” said Ishiba in a meeting with local supporters.

 

National Security Advisor, Takeo Akiba, visited Beijing and had a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi. They are supposed to have discussed the possibility of meeting between Ishiba and Xi in Peru. Both highly ranked diplomats confirmed maintaining “strategic relationship of mutual benefit” between two governments and building constructive and stable relationship.

 

APEC Summit will be held in Peru on November 15 and 16, and Group of Twenty Summit will be taken place in Brazil on November 18 and 19. Akiba and Wang sought possibility of the first meeting between Ishiba and Xi at any timing during those international meetings.

 

The bilateral relationship between Japan and China has been disturbed by some incidents. China continues to block Japan’s sea products, protesting Japan’s discharging “processed” water from crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Japanese boy was stabbed to death in Shenzhen in September. There is a growing sense of adversary between both nations.

 

Chinese government explained its breach of airspace of Japan in August as caused by unexpected obstruction by activities of Japan’s Self-defense Forces. It marked the first case that Chinese military plane violated Japan’s airspace. Ishiba is expected to seek further explanation from Xi, if the summit meeting is set.

 

Ishiba also is going to have a meeting with Biden to reconfirm steady relationship between Japan and the U.S. Although Ishiba invited concerns on his security policies, such as establishing Asian NATO or revision of Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, he cannot afford to promote them, given a situation of minority government after the general election of the House of Representatives in late October. Ishiba’s weak government is not expected to reach a big deal with U.S. or China so far.

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