Japan's ambassador to China says he cannot be 'optimistic' about improving ties, eyes November APEC summit

Japan's ambassador to China said he cannot be "optimistic" that strained ties between the two countries will improve at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit scheduled for China in November.

Ambassador Kanasugi Kenji made the remarks in a TV Asahi program aired Tuesday, adding that he hoped to "mobilize diplomatic resources to help Japan-China relations stabilize even a little, making the most of this rare opportunity."

His comments came amid growing attention to whether Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November.

Japan-China relations deteriorated sharply after Takaichi said last November that Japan might intervene in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

At a press conference last month, Takaichi said she was "looking forward to the APEC meeting," adding that "given the concerns and problems in Japan-China relations, it is important to use every opportunity at all levels to engage in dialogue and communication."

Kanasugi also addressed the difficulties his embassy has faced in communicating with Chinese officials and others on the ground.

"Since last November, it has become difficult for embassy staff, including myself, to meet with Chinese government officials, academics and business people," he said, adding that even when visiting the regions, they have been unable to meet with local government leaders — a situation that has persisted.

"It is a very frustrating situation," Kanasugi said. "Normally, it is precisely during difficult times like these that dialogue is most desirable, and that is what we ask of China — but regrettably, we have not been able to have meaningful dialogue with China."