Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his first meeting on the 31st with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, cited the Murayama Statement and said Japan "must reflect on its history of aggression." Takaichi also raised human rights issues, including Hong Kong, to which China is sensitive, creating a delicate mood.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Gyeongju. Xi has held talks with Japanese prime ministers on the sidelines of APEC summits, but this year the meeting was in doubt because it came right after Takaichi, who has made regular visits to Yasukuni Shrine and taken a hard line on historical issues, took office.
In this context, Xi sought to keep Takaichi in check by invoking the Murayama Statement. Xi said, "The two countries should be partners in cooperation, not threats to each other," and added, "We should widely promote the spirit of the Murayama Statement, which reflected on the history of aggression and apologized to victimized countries."
Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, while in office in 1995, issued the "Murayama Statement," which explicitly expressed reflection and apology for Japan's colonial rule and aggression against neighboring countries.
It was the first time for a Japanese prime minister to refer to past colonial rule as "aggression," and the statement was seen as a step forward from previous apologies and historical awareness.
Xi also said, "The long-term, healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations meets the common expectations of the people of both countries and the international community," and stressed that Japan's new Cabinet should establish a correct understanding of China and maintain the direction of peace, friendship and cooperation.
At the meeting, Xi did not offer congratulations on Takaichi's inauguration in his opening remarks and limited himself to general messages. He also indirectly raised the Taiwan issue to pressure Takaichi.
Takaichi, for her part, brought up the Hong Kong issue, to which China is sensitive, and conveyed concerns about the East China Sea situation, including the Senkaku Islands. She also asked for a positive response to resume imports of Japanese seafood and beef.
Right after the meeting, Takaichi told reporters, "Xi and I agreed on the importance of effective crisis management and communication between defense authorities."