Story perspectives

China mourns Yasuo Fukuda’s death with condolences

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 6:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Guo Jiakun Condoles

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed condolences for former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s death.
Fukuda died of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital on Oct 22, aged 90.
During his Sep 2007-Sep 2008 term, he signed the fourth China-Japan political document and a 2008 joint statement.
In 2007 he pledged Japan would not pursue “two Chinas,” support Taiwan independence, or UN membership.
Researcher Lü Yaodong warned Fukuda’s death weakens forces supporting China-Japan friendship.

Summary

Yasuo Fukuda Resigns

Yasuo Fukuda became Japan’s prime minister in 2007 after Shinzo Abe’s sudden resignation.
His tenure lasted less than a year because of legislative gridlock.
He resigned as chief cabinet secretary in 2004 after admitting he hadn’t paid into the pension system.
In 2003 he sparked controversy by saying provocatively dressed women “asked to be raped.”
His son Tatsuo Fukuda is a lawmaker and potential future prime minister.

History

Historical Context

The 29 September 1972 Japan-China Joint Communiqué, signed by Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and Premier Zhou Enlai, ended two decades of Cold-War estrangement, recognized the PRC as China’s sole government and renounced war reparations. In May 2008, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s political document reaffirmed that pledge, rejecting a “two-China” policy and shaping today’s bilateral security calculus.

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Guo Jiakun Condoles

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed condolences for former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s death.
Fukuda died of heart failure at a Tokyo hospital on Oct 22, aged 90.
During his Sep 2007-Sep 2008 term, he signed the fourth China-Japan political document and a 2008 joint statement.
In 2007 he pledged Japan would not pursue “two Chinas,” support Taiwan independence, or UN membership.
Researcher Lü Yaodong warned Fukuda’s death weakens forces supporting China-Japan friendship.

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