By Wu Qiaoxi | 2026-04-17

Japan has downgraded its description of China in its 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook, referring to China as "an important neighboring country" instead of "one of the most important bilateral relationships," the term in the 2025 edition. The report says China has intensified "unilateral criticism and coercive measures" against Japan.

The bluebook, presented by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to the Diet (parliament) on April 10, reviews Japan's 2025 diplomacy and international developments. It cites a Chinese fighter jets locking its fire control radar onto a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft and Beijing imposing tighter export controls on dual use items that Japan buys, among other acts.

The shift in wording reflects a heightened threat perception of China rather than a simple downgrading of Sino-Japanese ties, say analysts.

At the same time, the report states that Japan will continue comprehensive efforts to promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with China.

"The fact of the matter is that there are changes every year that span many fields," Motegi said when asked about the new wording.

Sino-Japanese ties have been strained in recent months following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks that a Chinese use of force around Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan. Beijing vehemently objected, and tensions have since escalated across diplomatic, economic and military domains.

In late March, an active member of the Self-Defense Forces was arrested in connection with charges of breaching the grounds of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. The episode added to the downturn in Sino-Japanese relations.

Citing Chinese coerion

The bluebook stressed that Japan has repeatedly protested and rebutted what it described as "factually incorrect statements and coercive measures" by China. It also said China's export controls on dual use goods, meant to target Japan this year, were "clearly inconsistent with international practice" and "unacceptable" to Tokyo.

China, however, blamed Japan for the deterioration in ties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning April 10 accused Takaichi of fueling tensions with her remarks on Taiwan.

Japan should "reflect on and correct its wrongdoings," said Mao.

Chinese state media outlet CGTN described the report as pouring another "bucket of cold water" on already tense relations.

Japan sheds naivete

The revised wording signals a change in Japan's policy focus, say analysts.

It suggests Tokyo will no longer "naively invest more resources in assisting China or restoring relations, but instead devote more resources to guarding against China," Shen Ming-shih, a researcher at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told NTD Television.

The change "is not a downgrading of relations with China but an elevation of the perceived threat," Weng Ming-hsien, a professor of political science at Tamkang University in New Taipei, Taiwan, told Liberty Times.

"More important, the bluebook shows that Japan will respond to China's development calmly and appropriately from the perspective of national interest," he said, adding that observers can see more missile defense deployments in the Nansei Islands and beefed-up US-Japan security cooperation.

The bluebook reaffirmed that Taiwan is "an extremely important partner and a precious friend," sharing fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, with relations maintained on a nongovernmental basis.