Japan’s media is all over the story that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be arriving in China this Sunday for a historic summit. But you’d never know it by reading the Chinese press.

The only Xinhua stories mention that Abe, who’s been in office for less than two weeks, wants to improve relations with China. See here for the latest story that omits all reference to a China visit.

What does this mean? It’s political hardball. China is bargaining to extract as many concessions from Japan as possible before assuring Abe a chance to come to Beijing. Already, the Japanese media have suggested that China sought a pledge that Abe would not visit the Yasukuni Shrine, where WWII war criminals are honored, while serving as Japan’s prime minister. Japan said, ‘No way.’ Click here for one story out of Tokyo.

Now, with North Korea threatening a nuclear test, there’s even more compelling reasons for leaders of the two nations to meet.

By the way, the last time a formal Sino-Japanese summit took place was in 2001.