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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday called China an “important neighbor” and pledged to pursue a constructive and stable relationship with Beijing despite continuing tensions between the two Asian economic powers.
In a policy address to parliament, Takaichi said Japan would maintain dialogue with China while defending its national interests.
“China is an important neighbor, and despite difficulties, we have built up a long-standing relationship over the years,” Takaichi said.
“We will work to ensure communication on shared challenges, promote dialogue to safeguard our national interests, and build a constructive and stable relationship.”
She added that Japan would “firmly assert our country’s positions” and “strongly call for responsible behavior.”
Diplomatic relations between Japan and China have been at a low point since Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene in the event of an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Her remarks came after China’s top diplomat said last week that relations with Tokyo were “waiting to be normalized again” during a meeting with a former Japanese foreign minister leading a trade delegation in Beijing.
China last year warned its citizens against traveling to Japan and imposed trade restrictions that reportedly caused major declines in supplies of vital rare earth minerals to Japanese companies.
Takaichi, who has maintained unusually high approval ratings a year into office, is also dealing with rising inflation, market concerns over Japan’s growing debt and the continuing diplomatic dispute with China.
The prime minister also said her government would prepare a comprehensive strategy by the end of the year to address Japan’s population decline, which she described as a “quietly advancing national crisis.”
Government data released in July showed the number of Japanese people living in the country had fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years.
Takaichi also repeated her commitment to a proactive and responsible fiscal policy and pledged to maintain market confidence after her expansive government spending program unsettled markets.
The speech opened a parliamentary session scheduled to continue through December.
Lawmakers are expected to discuss several bills, including a plan to cut the consumption tax on food for two years to ease the impact of inflation on daily life.
Takaichi also pledged Japan’s support for the International Criminal Court.
Her remarks came after the United States imposed sanctions in August on the tribunal’s Japanese president, Tomoko Akane.
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