Japan Lawmaker Urges End To China Economic Ties
TOKYO, Japan (WHN) – A senior lawmaker in Japan’s ruling party has urged a “complete decoupling” of the nation’s economy from China. Keiji Furuya of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stated in an interview with the Financial Times that Japan must end its economic reliance on Beijing to counter national security threats and avoid being “held hostage.”
Furuya cited China’s “extraordinary” military expansion and its increasingly aggressive posture towards Taiwan as primary drivers for the policy shift.
He argued that China uses its economic power for political coercion. Furuya described this tactic as a direct “threat to peace and stability” in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Economic security is inseparable from national security,” Furuya stated, framing Beijing’s economic leverage as a potent tool of statecraft that leaves dependent nations vulnerable.
The risk is immediate. Furuya warned that critical Japanese supply chains for items like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and rare earth minerals remain dangerously exposed to potential disruptions orchestrated by Beijing.
The lawmaker pointed directly to Australia’s recent experience. He referenced how Beijing imposed punitive tariffs on Australian goods like barley and wine following political disagreements, presenting it as a cautionary tale for Tokyo.
Furuya’s call for a full separation represents a significant departure from the official policy of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government. The Kishida administration has pursued a strategy of “de-risking,” which aims to reduce critical dependencies on China without severing all economic ties.
Japan’s government has already taken steps under this “de-risking” framework. The Economic Security Promotion Act, passed in 2022, seeks to strengthen supply chains for essential goods and protect critical infrastructure from foreign influence, a move seen as a direct response to risks posed by China.
China remains Japan’s largest trading partner. A total economic break would introduce profound shocks to Japanese industries, from automotive manufacturing to consumer electronics, which are deeply integrated with the Chinese market and its labor force.
Furuya acknowledged this reality. He said any decoupling would need to be managed “strategically and selectively” over time rather than as an overnight event.
The proposal advocates for a “friend-shoring” approach. This strategy involves shifting investment and strengthening economic partnerships with allied nations, including the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and other Group of Seven (G7) members, to build more resilient supply chains.
Furuya, who serves as chairman of the pro-Taiwan Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, insisted that passivity was not an option. His position reflects a growing hawkish sentiment within the LDP, a faction heavily influenced by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who also cautioned against China’s rising power.
The lawmaker stressed the need to act “with a sense of speed,” arguing that China’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated its willingness to control the flow of essential goods for political gain.
