Beijing Approves Japanese Business Delegation Expansion From Five To Around 20

‘Hot economics, cold politics’: why China gave nod for expanded Japanese trade trip

Beijing has agreed to allow the Japanese Business Federation to expand its delegation visiting China next month, Kyodo news agency reported this week. The delegation will grow from five people to around 20, according to the report. The trip could coincide with this year’s Apec summit in Shenzhen in mid-November.

A larger business delegation

The Japanese Business Federation, also known as Keidanren, is the country’s most influential business lobby. Its expanded group will include more executives than the five-person delegation previously approved for the visit. The decision has therefore drawn attention because it allows a substantially larger Japanese business presence in China.

Beijing’s notice came soon after former foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya travelled to the Chinese capital with a 50-member Japanese trade delegation. The two developments place the latest approval in the context of recent contact between Japanese trade representatives and Chinese officials.

Observers say Beijing’s decision may offer some optimism, but they also expect “hot economics and cold politics” to continue dominating the strained relationship between the two countries. The phrase captures the contrast between continued economic engagement and unresolved political strain.

Economic access and political pressure

Experts say allowing more executives to visit Beijing shows that China aims to use economic leverage to pressure Tokyo. That assessment means the expanded delegation is being viewed not only as a business development but also as part of China’s broader approach to Japan.

The approval, however, does not change the observers’ central warning that the relationship remains strained. For now, the clearest movement is on the economic side: a delegation initially set at five people may now rise to around 20, with the visit potentially coinciding with the Apec summit in Shenzhen. Politics, observers say, will remain cold.

Source: South China Morning Post