Politics · Japan · 2 hrs ago
Japan’s finance minister disputes Nikkei report on G20 talks
After a G20 finance ministers’ meeting, Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama challenged a Nikkei newspaper report at a press conference on October 15.
The report said China had criticized rising interest rates in major economies during discussions before the meeting, and that Japan had responded.
Katayama said there were no prior talks and denied that China had criticized Japan as described.
She asked the Nikkei reporter what evidence supported the report, while the reporter said it was based on reporting and did not identify the source.
Nikkei later said it had reported information based on its reporting.
The public exchange drew attention to a dispute over the report’s accuracy, but the accounts given do not resolve what was said in the discussions.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama publicly denied a Nikkei report about discussions at a G20 meeting and challenged its reporter to explain the basis for the story.
The Nikkei article said China had criticised rising interest rates among major economies during discussions before the meeting, and that Japan had responded.
Katayama said there had been no prior discussions and that China had not criticised Japan as reported.
The Nikkei reporter said the report was based on reporting but did not disclose the source.
The Nikkei’s public relations office later said the newspaper had reported based on its reporting.
- Who
- Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and a reporter from the Nikkei.
- What
- Katayama denied a Nikkei report about G20 talks and questioned the basis for it. The Nikkei said the report was based on its reporting.
- When
- 15 October 2026, after the G20 meeting concluded.
- Where
- At a press conference after the G20 meeting. The meeting’s location is not stated.
- Why
- Katayama said there had been no prior discussions and no Chinese criticism of Japan as described in the article.
Satsuki Katayama
The Nikkei
Report’s accuracy
Satsuki Katayama
Katayama said there had been no prior discussions and that China had not criticised Japan as reported.
The Nikkei
The Nikkei said the report was based on its reporting.
Basis for the report
Satsuki Katayama
Katayama asked the reporter to explain the basis for the article.
The Nikkei
The reporter said it was based on reporting but did not reveal the source.
The Nikkei published an article about G20 discussions and criticism of rising interest rates.
After the G20 meeting concluded, Katayama denied the report at a press conference and questioned the Nikkei reporter.
The Nikkei’s public relations office said the newspaper had reported based on its reporting.
- Minister
- Satsuki Katayama
- News outlet
- The Nikkei
- Article date
- 15 October 2026
- Meeting
- G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting
- Katayama’s position
- She said there had been no prior discussions and no Chinese criticism of Japan as reported.
3 sources
What people are saying
I want to deny the Nikkei article first.
There were no prior discussions, so there was absolutely nothing like China criticising us.
It is based on reporting.
We report based on our reporting.