Foreign Ministry Criticises Japan’s Extensive Lobbying for New ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Concept

Summary

On 2 July 2026, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's frequent references and lobbying for the new 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' concept at a regular press conference. Japanese officials at various levels have been extensively lobbying in the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and other countries for this concept, while Takaichi again emphasised the importance of building a so-called 'free and open Indo-Pacific region' during her visit to India. Guo Jiakun pointed out that Japan talks about freedom and openness but harbours confrontation and antagonism, and such a misnomer runs counter to the common aspiration of regional countries for peace, development and cooperation.

He stressed that the Asia-Pacific needs stability, not turmoil, and cooperation, not division; maintaining the post-war international order and the purposes of the UN Charter is the foundation for Asia-Pacific prosperity and stability. In the face of 'small moves' that create division and provoke confrontation, regional countries should keep their eyes open, unite as one, uphold the correct direction of Asia-Pacific cooperation, enhance mutual trust through dialogue and consultation, safeguard peace through mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly build a prosperous, stable, open, inclusive, and mutually supportive Asia-Pacific. Specific details of the plan are yet to be released.

Commentary

For New Zealand small and medium enterprise owners, the signals from this Sino-Japanese diplomatic exchange warrant attention. Japan's active lobbying for the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' concept essentially seeks to rally regional countries to counterbalance China, potentially exacerbating Asia-Pacific geopolitical tensions. As New Zealand's economy is highly dependent on Asia-Pacific stability, any impact on regional cooperation frameworks (e.g. RCEP, CPTPP) would directly affect SMEs' export costs and market access.

For instance, if Sino-Japanese friction triggers supply chain restructuring, exporters relying on Chinese raw materials may face tariff or logistics risks, while dairy and meat exporters targeting the Chinese market need to monitor whether consumer sentiment fluctuates due to political tensions. On the other hand, China emphasises 'cooperation and stability' and promotes trade facilitation through multilateral mechanisms, providing a predictable business environment for New Zealand companies. Recommendations for SMEs: first, assess political risk exposure related to China and consider diversifying export destinations to Southeast Asian markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia; second, leverage policy dividends from the upgraded China-New Zealand FTA to enhance supply chain resilience; third, closely monitor future bilateral interactions between China and Japan – should substantive sanctions or trade restrictions materialise, adjust inventory and contract terms in advance.

In conclusion, this incident has no immediate commercial impact, but the accumulation of regional strategic tensions may alter trade rules in the medium to long term.

Keywords: Foreign Ministry, Japan, Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Guo Jiakun, Sanae Takaichi, lobbying, Asia-Pacific stability, opposing division, geopolitics

Source: China.org.cn