Cancel Xi Jinping's visit to Japan, say 62% in Nikkei poll

Chinese leader's planned trip in flux as Beijing pushes Hong Kong security law

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Osaka before the Group of 20 summit in June 2019. © Reuters

SHOHEI KANAYA and TSUBASA UKISHIMA, Nikkei staff writers

July 20, 2020 02:00 JST

TOKYO -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan should be called off, a majority of respondents told Nikkei in a weekend survey, reflecting international objections to China's tightening grip over Hong Kong.

The Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll found that 62% want the trip canceled, while 28% said it should take place. The visit was initially slated for April but pushed back in March over coronavirus concerns, and the two sides have not been able to set a new date.