Japan PM calls China 'important neighbor', pledges stable relationship

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called China an important neighbor in a policy address in Tokyo on Monday and pledged to build a stable relationship. She also said Japan would firmly assert its positions while seeking dialogue. The speech came amid strained ties over her Taiwan remarks, inflation, debt concerns, and population decline.

Takaichi said Japan will formulate a comprehensive strategy on population decline by the end of the year.

The number of Japanese people living in the country fell below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, according to government data released in July.

The parliamentary session opened after the speech will run through December and includes bills such as a planned two-year cut in the consumption tax on food.

Takaichi repeated her commitment to a proactive and responsible fiscal policy after her expansive spending program rattled markets.

She said Japan would support the International Criminal Court after the United States targeted its Japanese President, Tomoko Akane, with sanctions in August.

Published Oct 5, 2026 3:17 pm KST

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers her policy speech at the parliament, Tokyo, Japan, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called China an "important neighbor" and pledged to build a stable relationship between the rival nations in a policy address on Monday.

Diplomatic relations between the Asian economic giants have been at rock bottom since Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo may intervene in any attack on the island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

"China is an important neighbor, and despite difficulties, we have built up a long-standing relationship over the years," she told parliament.

"We will work to ensure communication on shared challenges, promote dialogue to safeguard our national interests, and build a constructive and stable relationship."

But she added that Japan would also "firmly assert our country's positions" and "strongly call for responsible behavior".

The premier also signalled her government would draft a comprehensive plan to deal with population decline, which she called a "quietly advancing national crisis".

Despite enjoying unusually high approval ratings a year into office, the prime minister is navigating a number of challenges including rising inflation, market concerns about Japan's mounting debts and a diplomatic spat with China that has been rumbling since making the comments about Taiwan last year.

The policy speech came after China's top diplomat said last week ties with Tokyo were "waiting to be normalized again" as he met a former Japanese foreign minister who was leading a trade delegation in Beijing.

China had last year warned its citizens against travel to Japan, and imposed trade restrictions that have reportedly led to big drops in supplies of vital rare earth minerals to Japanese firms.

On population decline, Takaichi pledged to formulate a comprehensive strategy by the end of the year.

Takaichi also pledged to ensure she had the trust of the market, repeating her commitment to a proactive and responsible fiscal policy, after her program of expansive government spending rattled markets.

The speech kicked off a parliamentary session that will run through to December and discuss several bills, including plans to cut a consumption tax on food for two years to curb the impact of inflation on voters' daily lives.

The premier's speech also included a pledge to support the International Criminal Court after the United States targeted the tribunal's Japanese President, Tomoko Akane, with sanctions in August.

日本首相高市早苗周一在东京发表施政演说，称中国是重要的邻国，并承诺致力于构建稳定的双边关系。她还表示，日本将在寻求对话的同时，坚定捍卫自身立场。此次演说正值中日关系因她此前关于台湾问题的言论、通货膨胀、债务问题以及人口下降等因素而趋于紧张之际。

高市表示，日本将在年底前制定应对人口下降的综合战略。

根据政府7月份公布的数据，日本国内人口数量42年来首次降至1.2亿以下。

演讲结束后，议会会议开幕，会议将持续到 12 月，其中包括一些法案，例如计划在两年内削减食品消费税。

高市在推出大规模支出计划后，再次重申了她对积极负责的财政政策的承诺，该计划曾令市场动荡不安。

她表示，在美国于8月对日本总统茜智子实施制裁后，日本将支持国际刑事法院。

发布于2026年10月5日下午3:17（韩国标准时间）

日本首相高市早苗周一在东京国会发表施政演说。路透社-韩联社

东京——日本首相高市早苗周一在施政演说中称中国是“重要的邻国”，并承诺在两国之间建立稳定的关系。

自高市春华去年 11 月暗示东京可能会干预任何针对台湾岛（北京声称是其领土）的攻击以来，这两个亚洲经济巨头之间的外交关系一直处于最低点。

“中国是重要的邻国，尽管困难重重，但多年来我们建立了长期稳定的关系，”她对议会表示。

“我们将努力确保就共同挑战进行沟通，促进对话以维护我们的国家利益，并建立建设性和稳定的关系。”

但她补充说，日本也将“坚定地维护我国的立场”，并“强烈呼吁采取负责任的行为”。

总理还表示，她的政府将制定一项全面的计划来应对人口下降问题，她称之为“正在悄然加剧的国家危机”。

尽管上任一年来首相的支持率异常高，但他仍面临诸多挑战，包括通货膨胀加剧、市场对日本不断增长的债务感到担忧，以及自去年发表有关台湾的言论以来与中国持续不断的外交争端。

此前，中国最高外交官上周在北京会见了率领贸易代表团的日本前外相，并表示中日关系“正等待再次正常化”。

去年，中国曾警告其公民不要前往日本，并实施了贸易限制，据报道，这些限制导致日本企业重要的稀土矿物供应大幅下降。

针对人口下降问题，高市承诺将在年底前制定一项综合战略。

高市也承诺确保自己获得市场的信任，重申了她对积极负责的财政政策的承诺。此前，她的大规模政府支出计划曾令市场感到不安。

此次演讲拉开了议会会议的序幕，会议将持续到 12 月，期间将讨论多项法案，其中包括一项为期两年的食品消费税减免计划，以遏制通货膨胀对选民日常生活的影响。

首相的讲话中还承诺支持国际刑事法院，此前美国于 8 月对该法庭的日本审判长茜智子实施了制裁。