APEC 2026 summit scheduled for Shenzhen amid Japan-China tensions

The 2026 APEC Business Leaders' Meeting is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, on November 17–18. Hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the event will follow the 33rd APEC Informal Leaders' Meeting and is expected to host approximately 1,000 representatives from the political and business sectors of APEC economies. Discussions will focus on themes such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, sustainable development, and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Amidst these upcoming economic forums, diplomatic tensions between Japan and China remain high. Following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi regarding the potential for a Taiwan contingency to become an existential crisis, bilateral relations have reached a significant low. Analysts suggest that while a formal summit between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Xi Jinping may be unlikely during the APEC proceedings, a symbolic handshake—similar to the ‘Japan-Korea model’ seen at the 2019 G20 summit—remains a possibility. Historical precedents in Australia, Canada, and the UK suggest that significant improvements in China-related diplomatic friction often require a change in administration.