SEOUL, Oct. 31, 2025 – Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, held her first and pointedly "candid" meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, immediately confronting him over Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea, its crackdown in Hong Kong, and the human rights crisis in Xinjiang.
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| Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she raised concerns about the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Xinjiang in a "candid" first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea (STR) |
The tense first encounter, held on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea, sets a frosty tone for relations between Asia's two largest economies.
President Xi, in turn, offered a stern warning to Japan's first female prime minister, a long-established "China hawk." According to Chinese state media, Xi stated he hopes her government will have a "correct understanding" of his country and "adhere to" clear provisions on "major issues such as history."
Xi's reference to "history" is a clear and direct diplomatic rebuke, alluding to Takaichi's regular visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals, and has long angered China and South Korea.
The high-stakes meeting comes just days after both leaders held separate talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the high-stakes trilateral dynamic shaping the Indo-Pacific.
A 'Candid' List of Grievances
Prime Minister Takaichi, an acolyte of the right-wing former premier Shinzo Abe, has built her political brand on a hardline stance against Beijing. She made it clear she would not waste her first meeting on diplomatic pleasantries.
"I conveyed that it was important for us to engage in direct, candid dialogue," Takaichi told reporters.
She then presented a litany of Japan's deepest concerns:
Maritime Aggression: She "expressed serious concerns" about China's militarization of the South China Sea—where an international tribunal has ruled its claims have no legal basis—and the constant presence of Chinese vessels near the Japanese-administered Senkaku (Diaoyu) islands in the East China Sea.
Human Rights: Takaichi directly challenged Xi on the situations in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where Beijing is accused of widespread human rights abuses—charges it vehemently denies.
Economic Coercion: She raised the issue of China's export controls on critical materials, including rare earths, which are vital to Japan's high-tech industries.
Detained Citizens: Takaichi pressed for the immediate release of Japanese citizens detained in China and demanded that the safety of Japanese expatriates be ensured.
The Taiwan Flashpoint
In a particularly tense exchange, Takaichi, an outspoken backer of self-ruled Taiwan, said the topic was raised by the Chinese side.
"Regarding Taiwan... I stated that for the stability and security in this region, maintaining good cross-strait relations is important," Takaichi said, a firm response that frames Taiwan's security as a matter of international concern, not merely an internal Chinese affair.
A Meeting Backed by Military Muscle
This diplomatic confrontation is not happening in a vacuum. It is backed by Takaichi's muscular new defense posture, a continuation of Abe's efforts to move Japan away from its post-war pacifism.
Earlier this week, Takaichi hosted President Trump, with both leaders delivering speeches from the deck of an American aircraft carrier a powerful symbol of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Furthermore, Takaichi announced last week that Japan would meet its 2% of GDP defense spending goal this fiscal year, two years ahead of schedule. This rapid re-armament, including the acquisition of "counter-strike" capabilities, is aimed squarely at deterring China and North Korea.
As one analyst, Professor Yee Kuang Heng of the University of Tokyo, noted before the summit, the meeting was expected to be "frosty... wary of her reputation as a China hawk."
However, the core challenge for both leaders remains. As Heng concluded, "Overall though, stability is a shared priority."
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