Japan PM Takaichi to attend China-hosted APEC if parliament allows

· Politics · Japan · China

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she plans to attend the APEC leaders summit hosted by China if parliament permits, confirming her willingness to visit amid a deep freeze in ties between the two economies. The remark came as Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its three-day autumn festival; she is expected to skip an in-person visit. South Korea's government expressed regret over the offering, calling the shrine a symbol of Japan's imperialist past. Japan separately said it is hosting a record number of foreign residents, and Takaichi has pushed for stricter immigration rules amid growing anti-immigration sentiment.

Why it matters：A possible Takaichi visit to China could open a channel between Asia's two largest economies, but the Yasukuni offering keeps historical disputes alive with Seoul and Beijing.

Key points

  • Takaichi conditioned an APEC trip to China on parliamentary approval.
  • She sent an offering to Yasukuni Shrine and is expected to skip a visit.
  • South Korea expressed regret over the offering.

Sources (original reporting)

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