▲ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping
It has been revealed that China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently omitted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official title and referred to her only by name during an official briefing.
This has sparked analyses that the designation was intentional, given that tensions between the two countries have persisted for nearly a year following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks last year hinting at intervention in a contingency involving Taiwan.
According to Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily today (October 3), Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun referred to Prime Minister Takaichi strictly by her name, "Sanae Takaichi," while answering a question regarding discussions on Japan's possession of nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines during a regular briefing on September 30.
Given that the title of Prime Minister was also absent from the briefing transcript published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website afterward, the spokesperson's omission does not appear to be a slip of the tongue.
When Prime Minister Takaichi newly assumed office in October of last year, China used the title "Prime Minister" to refer to the Japanese leader.
However, as China-Japan relations rapidly cooled following Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks regarding a contingency in Taiwan, the Chinese side has indirectly referred to Prime Minister Takaichi as the "Japanese ruling authorities" or the "current Japanese leader."
Sing Tao Daily pointed out that "diplomatic rhetoric is the most sophisticated 'word game' today, and how a leader is addressed can be considered a 'thermometer' of bilateral relations," adding that "omitting even the title and leaving only the name is akin to a diplomatic 'demotion' for Japan."
According to the outlet, the Chinese government never omitted the title of prime minister even when former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine for six consecutive years from 2001 to 2006.
This hardening of China's stance compared to the past is analyzed as suggesting that the Chinese government views Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks regarding Taiwan as a more serious issue than previous diplomatic frictions.
Meanwhile, attention is focused on whether Prime Minister Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, slated for next month.
While Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to attend, projections suggest that the likelihood of a bilateral China-Japan summit taking place is low.
Projections have also been raised that the Chinese government might not invite her to APEC, given that it has displayed hostility by calling the leader of a country with which it has diplomatic ties solely by her name.
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