"Xi Jinping's State Visit to Japan May Be Postponed Due to Novel Coronavirus Situation"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese media reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan may be postponed due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

According to the Sankei Shimbun on the 28th, China's major diplomatic and political schedules are being affected by the novel coronavirus, leading to speculation that President Xi's state visit to Japan, expected in early April, may be delayed. The state visit schedule was arranged after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first proposed it during the G20 summit held in Osaka last June.

If President Xi visits Japan, he would become the second foreign head of state to make a state visit to Japan since Emperor Naruhito's enthronement in May last year. The first state guest invited by the Japanese government after Emperor Naruhito's enthronement was U.S. President Donald Trump. The Japanese government has made considerable efforts in preparing for President Xi's state visit through multiple working-level meetings.

Sankei cited an anonymous Chinese political analyst who said that the Chinese government's tough response to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus appears to be a measure also considering President Xi's visit to Japan. It is analyzed that the Chinese government wants to resolve the situation before mid-March to carry out important diplomatic schedules. There is also speculation that the Chinese authorities expect to be able to control the novel coronavirus around April, and based on information from Chinese Communist Party sources, President Xi's visit to Japan could be postponed by several months.

Sankei also reported that although President Trump expressed his intention to visit China in line with the start of the second phase of trade negotiations with China, it is unclear whether the Chinese government has the capacity to welcome President Trump amid the Wuhan pneumonia situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.