Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC), on the first visit to China since taking office, the Government announced today.
© Lusa
13/11/2026
by
Lusa
A prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, will take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC), on the first visit to China since taking office, the government announced today.
“Prime Minister Takaichi should visit the Philippines and China from 16 to 19 November to participate in ASEAN-related summits and the APEC summit,” said Japanese Government Deputy Secretary-General Masanao Osaki.
The visit takes place at a time of particularly acute tensions between the two neighbors, since Takaichi suggested in November 2025 that Tokyo could intervene in the event of an attack on Taiwan, an island on which Beijing claims sovereignty.
The visit to China will be the first since conservative politics took power in October 2025.
At the APEC summit, Takaichi will address topics such as “trade and investment, regional economic integration, economic and energy resilience, digital economy (...) and will present Japan’s position on these issues,” Ozaki detailed.
Before that, Takaichi will go to Manila for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has 11 countries, including East Timor.
Ozaki reported that a “Quad” meeting is being organised, an informal military and diplomatic cooperation group bringing together Australia, India, Japan and the United States, in parallel with the ASEAN summit.