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.

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

2026年7月2日，外交部发言人郭嘉昆在例行记者会上批驳日本首相高市早苗频繁提及并游说新版“自由开放印太”构想的行为。日方各层级官员访问菲律宾、越南、澳大利亚等国就这一构想广泛游说，高市早苗访印时再次强调构建所谓“自由开放的印太地区”的重要性。郭嘉昆指出，日方嘴上喊着自由开放，心里想着对立对抗，这种名不副实的理念与地区国家求和平、谋发展、促合作的共同心愿背道而驰。

他强调，亚太地区需要的是稳定而不是动荡，注重的是合作而不是分裂；维护战后国际秩序和联合国宪章宗旨是亚太繁荣稳定的根基。面对制造分裂、挑动对抗的“小动作”，地区国家应擦亮眼睛、团结一心，维护好亚太合作的正确方向，通过对话协商增进互信，通过互利合作守护安宁，共同建设繁荣稳定、开放融通、普惠包容、和衷共济的亚太。具体方案细节待公布。

对于新西兰中小企业主而言，此次中日外交交锋释放的信号值得警惕。日本积极游说“自由开放印太”构想，本质是拉拢区域国家制衡中国，可能加剧亚太地缘政治紧张。新西兰作为经贸高度依赖亚太稳定的国家，若区域合作框架（如RCEP、CPTPP）因此受到冲击，将直接影响到中小企业的出口成本和市场准入。

例如，若中日摩擦导致供应链重组，依赖中国原材料的出口企业可能面临关税或物流风险；而主打中国市场的乳制品、肉类出口商则需关注消费趋势是否会因政治情绪波动。另一方面，中国强调“合作与稳定”，并通过多边机制推动贸易便利化，这为新西兰企业提供了可预期的营商环境。建议中小企业：一是评估对华业务的政治风险敞口，考虑分散出口目的地至越南、印尼等东南亚市场；二是善用中新自贸协定升级后的政策红利，增强供应链韧性；三是密切关注未来中日双边互动，若出现实质性制裁或贸易限制，需提前调整库存与合同条款。

结语：本次事件暂无直接商业影响，但区域战略矛盾积累可能在中长期改变贸易规则。

关键词: 外交部, 日本, 自由开放印太, 郭嘉昆, 高市早苗, 游说, 亚太稳定, 反对分裂, 地缘政治

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Source: China.org.cn