Sino-Japanese Relations Worsen; Japanese Business Delegation Tests Waters in China

Amidst uncertain prospects for high-level Sino-Japanese exchanges, the Japanese business community is exploring ways to maintain relations through small-scale visits. The Japan-China Economic Association will send a delegation to Shanghai and Hangzhou from May 11th for five days, focusing on the robotics industry. Approximately 30 participants from manufacturers and trading companies will attend. The association plans to increase such small-scale exchanges, including a visit to Hefei in July to study AI and semiconductor development, and aims for about two such visits in 2026. The Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade also plans a delegation in June. These efforts aim to mitigate the impact of deteriorating relations on economic exchange, as major Japanese business groups have faced repeated postponements of their visits.