Japan will remove the phrase “one of its most important” to describe relations with China from its 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook, according to a draft reviewed by Reuters. The document, expected to be approved next month by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government, will instead call China an “important neighbour” and characterize the relationship as “strategic” and “mutually beneficial.”
The draft attributes the change in tone to a string of confrontations with Beijing over the past year, including export controls on rare earths and critical minerals, incidents of radar lock‑ons targeting Japanese military aircraft, and increased pressure around Taiwan. Officials and analysts view the wording shift as reflecting a broader deterioration in ties that has deepened since November.
Takaichi prompted strong Chinese reactions in November when she said Japan could deploy its military if a Chinese action against Taiwan also threatened Japanese territory. Beijing retaliated by reimposing restrictions on Japanese seafood imports, advising its citizens against travel to Japan, and announcing curbs on rare earths and other materials used in electronics.
Takaichi has defended her comments as consistent with a decade‑old security law. A recent U.S. intelligence report said her rhetoric marked a sharp departure from previous Japanese leaders; Tokyo has rejected that assessment.
In parliament last month Takaichi warned of Chinese “coercion” and growing economic and security threats from Beijing and its regional partners, Russia and North Korea. During a White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Tokyo and Washington announced a joint action plan to develop alternatives to Chinese sources for critical minerals and rare earths, signaling closer coordination on supply‑chain resilience.
