Ishiba arranging 1st summit with China's Xi; he looks set to be reelected PM
Ishiba is likely to win reelection as prime minister because the opposition votes are split.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is preparing for his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This important meeting will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in Peru on November 15 and 16, and will be followed by the Group of 20 (G20) leaders' meeting in Brazil from November 18 to 19.
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The summit is taking place at a crucial moment, as Ishiba seeks to discuss several key issues with President Xi. A primary focus will be the early resumption of Japanese marine product shipments to China. This comes after China's recent decision to gradually lift its ban on seafood imports from Japan, a restriction that was put in place following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Ishiba is expected to voice worries about China's growing military activity near Japan, including its first breach of Japanese airspace in August. He will also seek to encourage high-level economic discussions between the two nations.
In Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, are eager to gain support from smaller opposition parties ahead of next month's parliamentary vote to select a new prime minister, as neither party holds a majority in the lower house following Sunday’s general election.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to secure enough support for re-election in parliament, despite the recent electoral setback. Officials from smaller opposition parties announced on Thursday that they will not support the main opposition leader's bid for the premiership.
This meeting is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China. Earlier this month, Xi sent Ishiba a congratulatory message on being elected prime minister, expressing his hope to promote these relations.
