"Xi Jinping's Visit to Japan This Year Seems Difficult... Impact of Hong Kong Security Law and Ruling Party Opposition"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 5th that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Japan is becoming difficult to realize within this year. The deterioration of the situation due to China's promotion of the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law) and strong opposition within the ruling party are influencing factors.

Yomiuri reported that a senior Japanese government official said, "It is not an environment to welcome President Xi within this year." President Xi's state visit to Japan was originally scheduled for April but was postponed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also gave a reserved response at a press conference the day before when asked if the goal was to have President Xi visit Japan within this year, saying, "At this point, the important thing is to manage the COVID-19 outbreak, and it is not yet the stage to adjust specific schedules (for normal diplomacy)."

The biggest variable in the current situation is China's enactment of the Hong Kong Security Law. Although President Xi's visit to Japan was postponed in April due to COVID-19, the conflict between the U.S. and China is deepening over the Hong Kong Security Law issue. Japan has no choice but to be mindful of the United States regarding President Xi's state visit to Japan.

Furthermore, opposition to President Xi's visit is growing within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Yasuhide Nakayama, chairman of the LDP's Foreign Affairs Committee, delivered a resolution condemning the Hong Kong Security Law, which included a request to reconsider President Xi's state visit, to Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga on the 30th of last month.

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