huanghong
Registered Member
It's really interesting. According to the official Japanese data that ChatGPT queried and listed, Japan's investment in China in the first half of 2026 actually showed inflows significantly exceeding outflows. Japanese capital is still flowing into the Chinese market on a large scale.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) monthly official statistics on overseas direct investment, Japanese direct investment in China during January–June 2026 remained a net inflow, rather than a net outflow.
The figures for mainland China were:
The monthly figures were:
¥378.1 billion − ¥156.4 billion ≈ ¥221.8 billion net investment.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to describe Japan's overall direct investment position in China during H1 2026 as a net capital withdrawal. Under Japan's balance-of-payments direct-investment statistics, the flow remained positive.
There is an important statistical qualification, however. Japan's “direct investment” statistics are not identical to China's Ministry of Commerce statistics on actual utilized foreign investment (FDI). The two countries use different statistical frameworks and definitions. Japan's balance-of-payments data include components such as equity capital, reinvested earnings, and debt-related investment.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) monthly official statistics on overseas direct investment, Japanese direct investment in China during January–June 2026 remained a net inflow, rather than a net outflow.
The figures for mainland China were:
| H1 2026 |
|---|
| Investment execution (gross investment) |
| Withdrawal / recovery |
| Net direct investment |
[th]
Amount
[/th][td]
¥378.1 billion
[/td][td]
¥156.4 billion
[/td][td]
+¥221.8 billion
[/td]- January: ¥87.5 billion invested, ¥19.1 billion withdrawn → +¥68.4 billion
- February: ¥35.4 billion invested, ¥16.4 billion withdrawn → +¥19.0 billion
- March: ¥61.2 billion invested, ¥30.6 billion withdrawn → +¥30.7 billion
- April: ¥51.4 billion invested, ¥43.1 billion withdrawn → +¥8.3 billion
- May: ¥59.5 billion invested, ¥25.9 billion withdrawn → +¥33.6 billion
- June: ¥83.1 billion invested, ¥21.3 billion withdrawn → +¥61.8 billion
¥378.1 billion − ¥156.4 billion ≈ ¥221.8 billion net investment.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to describe Japan's overall direct investment position in China during H1 2026 as a net capital withdrawal. Under Japan's balance-of-payments direct-investment statistics, the flow remained positive.
There is an important statistical qualification, however. Japan's “direct investment” statistics are not identical to China's Ministry of Commerce statistics on actual utilized foreign investment (FDI). The two countries use different statistical frameworks and definitions. Japan's balance-of-payments data include components such as equity capital, reinvested earnings, and debt-related investment.
