"South Korea and Japan Continue Coordination for APEC Summit Meeting"… Reaffirming 'Mutually Beneficial Relationship'?

China and Japan, which are coordinating the holding of a summit, are expected to reaffirm their 'strategic reciprocal relationship' emphasizing cooperation at the summit, taking advantage of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in San Francisco, USA.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, Yomiuri Shimbun and others reported, "While continuing dialogue on points of contention such as security and the suspension of imports of Japanese seafood, the intention is to advance cooperation in areas like the economy and climate change to secure mutual benefits for both countries."

The strategic reciprocal relationship was agreed upon during a summit between former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Chinese President Hu Jintao when Abe visited China in 2006. In 2008, the two countries issued a joint statement on the strategic reciprocal relationship. The statement contained the recognition that both countries have significant influence and responsibility for peace, stability, and development not only in the Asia region but also globally. It also stated that cooperation for peace and friendship over a long period is the only option for both countries.

China has referred to this statement as one of the four major political documents between China and Japan, and is expected to request confirmation from the Japanese side during this meeting. Although Japan revised its National Security Strategy in December last year, defining Chinese military developments as the 'greatest strategic challenge,' it is expected to clarify that this stance does not contradict maintaining the strategic reciprocal relationship.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that the two countries have continued to coordinate holding the summit on the 16th (local time), but specific times have not been finalized. At a press conference that afternoon, Japanese government spokesperson and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, "I am scheduled to hold summits with South Korea, Australia, and Canada after tomorrow," but added, "Nothing has been decided at this point regarding the US-Japan summit or the China-Japan summit."

If the China-Japan summit takes place, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet face-to-face for the first time in a year since their meeting at the APEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand, last November. Key agenda items at the summit are expected to include the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, maritime activities near the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyu Islands), and the Taiwan issue.