China-Japan Relations Reset as Trump 2.0 Looms
China-Japan ruling party talks resume after 6 years; Japanese delegation met with key officials
In today's episode, I want to discuss the recent warming of China-Japan relations in a roundup. On January 13, 2025, Japan dispatched a delegation to China comprising House Representatives led by Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama and Komeito Secretary-General Makoto Nishida. This visit was conducted under the China-Japan ruling party exchange mechanism, established in 2006.
The mechanism, which had been suspended since 2018, has now resumed after a hiatus of six years and three months, marking a significant milestone in bilateral party relations.
Parallel to the Japanese delegation, The Eastern Theater Command of PLA also sent its delegation to Japan. Marks the first resumption of military-to-military exchanges in five years.
According to NHK, Japanese Agriculture Minister Etō Taku is in Beijing, holding talks with China's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Deputy Minister of the General Administration of Customs. The discussions focus on lifting China's import restrictions on Japanese seafood and beef products. No official statement has been released yet.
Some Background on Resuming Ties
This diplomatic breakthrough can be traced back to late 2024 when both sides were getting ready early for what I call the “Second Impact" (borrowed from Evangelion) - Trump's potential return to the White House.
In late September, the two nations reached a consensus on the Fukushima nuclear wastewater release issue.
On Oct.9, one week after Shigeru Ishiba assumed office as Japan's Prime Minister, Wang Yi held a phone call with newly appointed Foreign Minister Takeaki Iwaya.
Within a month, Japanese National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba visited Beijing. Both sides agreed to maintain a stable supply chain and to avoid “decoupling. “
Both sides agreed to maintain high-level contacts and dialogue exchanges across various fields, and to send more positive signals to the international community.
双方表示将保持高层交往和各领域对话交流,对外释放更多积极正面信号。
This set the stage for the Xi-Ishiba meeting in Peru during the APEC summit in November 2024, marking the relationship rebuild on the fast track.
New Faces, Old Connection
A key focus of this delegation's visit is revitalizing people-to-people ties for a new generation after the retirement of Nikai Toshihiro, a veteran politician who is dubbed "a bridge to China" by Japanese media.
During their meeting with Wang Huning, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the delegation emphasized their commitment to building new bridges:
通过执政党交流机制,推进包括青年议员和地方领导人在内的各层级人员交流往来,减少分歧,促进合作。
Through the ruling party exchange mechanism, promote multi-level exchanges including young parliamentarians and local leaders, reduce differences, and advance cooperation.
Both members of this delegation - Fukuda Tatsuo(福田達夫), the Acting Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Kato Ayuko(加藤鮎子), the Deputy Secretary-General - have fathers who served as important diplomatic bridges between the two countries.
The Fukuda family has deep ties with China-Japan relations: During Tatsuo's grandfather, Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo's (福田 赳夫) term, the landmark Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China was enacted. His father, Yasuo Fukuda(福田 康夫), also a former Prime Minister of Japan, furthered bilateral ties by establishing the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit. After leaving office, Yasuo Fukuda continued his engagement by serving as Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia.
Kato Koichi(加藤纮一), the father of Kato Ayuko, served as Chief Cabinet Secretary between 1991 and 1992. After retirement, he served as President of the Japan-China Friendship Association between 2008 to 2015.
While history between these nations is often portrayed through a lens of conflict, these familial connections reveal a more complicated face of history.
Who met with the delegation?
This time, the Japanese delegation met with numerous key departments. I’ll line it up in time sequence:
On Jan.13, the delegation met with Li Shulei, Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Li emphasized China's commitment to
加强政治对话,促进人文交流,为中日关系营造健康理性的民意环境。
Strengthen political dialogue, promote people-to-people exchanges, and create a healthy and rational public opinion environment for China-Japan relations.
This aligned with the ten-point consensus reached during the Second China-Japan High-Level Consultation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchange on Dec. 25. The seventh point outlined that:
The two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation between media and think tanks, play a positive role in bilateral relations, and strive to improve public opinion and the environment for public opinion. The two sides will support exchanges and cooperation in new media and encourage exchanges between positive vibes of the two countries.
On Jan.14, the 9th Meeting of the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism, the delegation met with Liu Jianchao, chair of the International Department of Central Committee of CPC (IDCPC). Xinhua News has an report:
The 9th Meeting of the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism was held in Beijing on January 14, with representatives from the Communist Party of China, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, and Komeito Party in attendance.
Both sides acknowledged that since its first meeting in 2006, the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism has played a crucial political guiding role in advancing China-Japan relations. They welcomed the restart of this mechanism after a 6-year and 3-month hiatus.
Under the meeting theme "China-Japan Relations in a Changing World - The Mission and Responsibility of Ruling Parties," both sides held frank exchanges on their important responsibilities and roles in maintaining an international order based on international law amid global turbulence. They conducted in-depth discussions on enhancing mutual trust, expanding people-to-people exchanges, and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Both sides agreed to follow the direction set by their leaders, adhere to the principles established in the four China-Japan political documents, and jointly work to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, building constructive and stable bilateral relations that meet the requirements of the new era. To this end, the ruling parties will continue to strengthen dialogue.
They confirmed that regardless of circumstances facing China-Japan relations, close dialogue and communication should be maintained, strengthening exchanges between political parties, political figures, and young politicians to enhance mutual understanding and trust, thereby solidifying the political foundation for improving bilateral relations.
The parties exchanged views on issues including Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water discharge and Japanese seafood imports, agreeing to implement the consensus reached by both governments, accelerate communication and consultation, and properly address each other's concerns.
Both sides confirmed they would continue promoting practical cooperation through ruling party exchanges and agreed in principle to hold the 10th Meeting of the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism in Japan this autumn.
That day, the delegation met with Wang Huning, Chairman of CPPCC,
following the November 2024 meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shimohachi in Lima, both leaders agreed to advance China-Japan Strategic and Mutually Beneficial Relations in accordance with the principles and direction established in the four China-Japan political documents. The ruling parties of both countries should engage in in-depth exchanges to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, jointly develop bilateral relations, and promote regional and global prosperity. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is willing to make positive contributions to this end.
The Japanese side noted that Japan and China are important neighbors. Based on the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, Japan is willing to promote exchanges at various levels—including young parliamentarians and local leaders—through the ruling party exchange mechanism, seeking common ground while reserving differences, reducing disagreements, and advancing cooperation.
Shi Taifeng and Jiang Zuojun participated in the meeting.
They also met with Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi the same day (what a busy day for them)
Wang:
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Ishiba reached important consensus on comprehensively advancing China-Japan strategic mutual benefit relations and working to build constructive and stable China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era. Currently, China-Japan relations face an important opportunity for improvement and development. It is hoped that both sides will make good use of the ruling party exchange mechanism platform to play a positive role in the development of China-Japan relations.
On Jan.15, the delegation met with Premier Li Qiang; Premier Li emphasized the importance of building people-to-people friendships.
On January 15, 2025, Li Qiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, met with a Japanese ruling party delegation led by Hiroshi Moriyama, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Sanenori Nishida, Secretary-General of Komeito Party, at the Great Hall of the People.
Li Qiang noted that China-Japan relations are at a crucial period of improvement and development. In November last year, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Ishiba in Peru, where they agreed to jointly advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit comprehensively and build constructive and stable bilateral relations meeting the requirements of the new era, providing strategic guidance for bilateral relations. The restart of the ruling party exchange mechanism after nearly 7 years is an important measure to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders. China and Japan are immovable neighbors - since we cannot move away from each other, we must be good neighbors and do well at being neighbors. He expressed hope that China and Japan would continue working together, following the direction set by their leaders, to enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, manage differences, and promote healthy and stable development of bilateral relations for the greater benefit of both peoples.
Li Qiang pointed out that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with increasing uncertainties and instabilities facing peace and development. The ruling parties of both countries should demonstrate their mission and responsibility by taking correct and strong actions based on the long-term fundamental interests of both countries and with an attitude of responsibility toward their citizens and history. More energy should be devoted to promoting cooperation and joint development, further leveraging economic complementarities, maintaining stable supply chains, and exploring new growth points in areas such as technological innovation, digital economy, green development, and third-market cooperation. People-to-people friendship should be enhanced by doing more to promote mutual understanding and correct perceptions, strengthening cultural, local, and youth exchanges to consolidate the public foundation of bilateral relations.
The Japanese side stated that following the important consensus reached between Prime Minister Ishiba and President Xi Jinping on Japan-China relations last November, the LDP and Komeito will continue their commitment to advancing Japan-China relations, adhering to the principles established in the four political documents, including the Japan-China Joint Statement. The Japan-China ruling party exchange mechanism has far-reaching significance, and Japan looks forward to bilateral exchanges at various levels and in broad areas in the new year. The younger generation will become the driving force for Japan-China relations, and exchanges should be strengthened to increase understanding. Both sides should seek common ground while reserving differences, strengthen cooperation, and let their citizens better experience the fruits of Japan-China relations.
Chinese media The Paper(澎湃新闻) interviewed Cai Liang, Director, and Research Fellow at the Center for Northeast Asian Studies of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies; he believes “This visit is not only high-level, but the Japanese side also brought a handwritten letter from Prime Minister Ishiba, which is a clear signal of his desire to visit China soon. This represents a 'continued warming up' of China-Japan relations,"
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