China Welcomes Anti-Takaichi Lawmaker

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, made a visit to China and had meetings with high-level leaders of Xi Jinping administration. While affiliating to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Iwaya is known as taking distance from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over some major issues. China welcomed Iwaya as the representative of a private organization for promoting Japan-China trade, expecting improvement of economic relations of both nations. 

Iwaya visited Beijing as the president of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Japan (JAPIT) which members consists of political and business leaders. Established in 1954, years before Japan normalized diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, the JAPIT has been promoting Japan-China trade through researching markets and companies in China. Iwaya succeeded the president of JAPIT from former LDP president, Yohei Kono, who deceased last June.

 

As the chief of delegation sent by JAPIT, Iwaya had a meeting with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, on September 28th. Concerning Takaichi’s unusual reference to possible designation of contingency around Taiwan as Japan’s “survival threatening situation” in November 2025, Wang told Iwaya that China and Japan needed another normalization of their relations. But Wang requested “correction” of Japanese leader’s false speech on Taiwan, refraining from demanding “retraction” of the comment.

 

Iwaya also had a meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier in charge of economic policies, He Lifeng, on September 29th. While regarding some Japanese politicians as leaping beyond a crucial line on Taiwan to justify their militarism, He hoped to promote economic relations by “overcoming” the hardship brought by a wrong comment. Iwaya requested He easing of procedure for exporting rare earths for private use to Japan.

 

It is very unusual for China to treat a visit of Japanese political leaders with such a protocol as setting meetings with high-level officials, since Takaichi’s comment last November. When Japan proposed a foreign ministers meeting in Manila, the Philippines, on sideline of ASEAN conference in July, China did not accept it and made it to a short conversation.

 

In the occasion of visit to China by some members of Komeito in August and by some young members of multi-partisan Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association in September, China did not set a meeting with highly-ranked officials. It is unusual for China to treat a former Japanese foreign minister with this warm welcoming, even though

Iwaya represented a private organization that had a long history in Japan-China economic relations.

 

Iwaya is known as skeptical about Takaichi’s policies. He questioned Takaichi’s strong push on some issues in last session of the Diet, which included revision of Imperial House Law and passage of Prohibition of National Flag Vandalism Act or Backup Capital bill. He is also doubtful about reducing consumption tax rate for foods from 8 percent to 1. It is likely that China is putting pressure on Takaichi by encouraging anti-Takaichi political powers in Japan.

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