1. Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on October 25, 2025, without a public announcement from President Xi Jinping.
2. This move suggests China is cautious about how Prime Minister Takaichi will manage relations with Japan and indicates a difference in treatment compared to the previous three Japanese prime ministers, who received messages from both the Chinese president and premier.
3. In her first policy speech on October 25, 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed the need for constructive and stable ties with China but also mentioned security concerns between the two countries.