Japan-France spat over Nissan-Renault brews as Ghosn remains jailed

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Emmanuel Macron are arranging to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe arrive to Buenos Aires for G20 Leaders' Summit 2018 at Ministro Pistarini International Airport on November. Getty Images

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Emmanuel Macron were arranging to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, media said, amid signs of a brewing diplomatic feud over the power balance at the troubled Renault-Nissan alliance.

The 19-year partnership between Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co is facing its biggest test to date after the arrest this month of its larger-than-life leader, Carlos Ghosn, for suspected financial misconduct.

Mr Ghosn, 64, has been detained in Tokyo since his Nov. 19 arrest, and prosecutors are widely expected to seek a maximum 10-day extension of his detention. If the court approves, authorities will have to file charges by Dec. 10 or arrest him on suspicion of fresh crimes to keep him in custody.

Mr Ghosn's detention in Tokyo has left the Franco-Japanese auto alliance without a leader and an advocate for the French government, which has said it wants to retain the current capital structure. Renault controls Nissan through its 43 percent stake, while Nissan holds a non-voting 15 percent stake in its partner.

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Ghosn's arrest spreads disarray among Renault and Nissan executives

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Ghosn speaks out for first time since arrest

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After meeting in Paris last week, Japanese Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and French Finance and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire reaffirmed the two countries' support for the alliance.

A few days later, however, Mr Le Maire said on French television that he and Seko agreed that keeping the alliance's current capital structure was desirable - an agreement the Japanese minister denied making.

The Mainichi Shimbun daily reported on Friday that Mr Seko had sent a rare letter of protest to Mr Le Maire for the remarks. Officials at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said they could not immediately comment on the reported letter.

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Strong security measures in front of the embassy of Saudi Arabia after the arrival of the Saudi Crown Prince. EPA

Members of Argentina's Naval Prefecture stand guard outside the Saudi Arabian embassy. Reuters

Jounalists wait for the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron during sunset at Ezeiza airport. AFP

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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with a Saudi Arabia's embassy official as Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie watches, at Ministro Pistarini in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 28, 2018. Argentine G20/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Ministro Pistarini in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 28, 2018. Argentine G20/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

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South Korea's President Moon Jae-in (L) and his wife Kim Jung-sook, wave upon arrival at Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires province, on November 29, 2018. Global leaders gather in the Argentine capital for a two-day G20 summit beginning on Friday likely to be dominated by simmering international tensions over trade. / AFP / MARTIN BERNETTI

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (R) and his wife Sophie Gregoire, wave upon arrival at Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires province, on November 29, 2018. Global leaders gather in the Argentine capital for a two-day G20 summit beginning on Friday likely to be dominated by simmering international tensions over trade. / AFP / Martin BERNETTI

Mr Ghosn's arrest, including for allegedly under-reporting his income, has triggered new attempts by Nissan to shake off what it considers Renault's outsized control of it, adding to problems at Mr Macron's Elysee.

As economy minister, Mr Macron had masterminded the French government's surprise increase of its Renault stake in 2015, raising alarm bells inside Nissan that the Elysee was out to wield more influence over the Japanese company.

Mr Macron has requested a meeting with Mr Abe at the G20 summit starting on Friday, the Mainichi reported. A Japanese government spokesman said nothing had been decided.

The auto alliance, which also includes Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp, for its part "emphatically reiterated" its commitment to the partnership on Thursday after executives met in Amsterdam for the first time since Mr Ghosn's arrest.

A review of the capital structure was not discussed at the meeting, Mitsubishi Motors' CEO Osamu Masuko said.