Chinese Ambassador to Japan to Skip Japan-China Economic Organizations’ New Year’s Gathering

Takaichi’s Remarks on Taiwan Spark Boycott
Chinese Ambassador’s Absence from Economic New Year’s Event Considered Unprecedented

Reuters Yonhap News

The Chinese Ambassador to Japan will not attend the New Year’s gathering of economic organizations from both countries, including the Japan-China Economic Association, scheduled to take place in Tokyo on January 7. This absence is being interpreted as a diplomatic boycott by China, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting potential intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

According to TV Asahi on January 7, the Chinese Embassy in Japan notified organizers that Ambassador Wu Jianghao would not be attending the Japan-China economic organizations’ New Year’s event. The embassy reportedly did not provide a reason for his absence.

The Japan-China Economic Association and the Japan-China Economic Trade Promotion Association traditionally hold a New Year’s celebration at the beginning of the year. Last year, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan attended and delivered greetings, but this year’s absence is considered highly unusual. An official from the organizing committee stated, “We have held the New Year’s celebration for decades, but I cannot recall a time when the Chinese Ambassador did not attend.”

This decision not to attend was communicated at a time when China had just imposed trade and technology sanctions in response to Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks. The previous day, China announced a ban on the export of dual-use items (goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes) to Japan.

Since Prime Minister Takaichi’s comments, China has gradually increased diplomatic pressure on Japan, including lodging official protests, advising its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, and banning imports of Japanese seafood.

As tensions between the two countries have continued for two months, the atmosphere for economic cooperation has also cooled. For example, a delegation of Japanese business leaders, including the chairman of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), has postponed a planned visit to China this month.