China–Japan relations have entered their harshest phase since normalisation in 1972. A decisive turning point came on 7 November 2025 when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, discussing the possibility of a Chinese military operation against Taiwan, declared that the use of warships and the exercise of force by China could constitute a ‘situation threatening Japan’s survival’.
The statement sparked a propaganda war. Chinese state media intensified efforts to discredit Japan’s security policies and portray Tokyo as a destabilising force in the region. What had long been an uneasy but carefully managed coexistence is now under severe strain.
Yet despite the deterioration, neither side appears willing to let the relationship collapse entirely. Ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in China in November 2026, both governments have cautiously signalled their intention to reopen channels of communication. Japan has publicly signalled interest in a Xi–Takaichi summit later this year, while China has officially welcomed a visit by Japanese business representatives organised by the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade, indicating a shared recognition of the need for tactical stabilisation.
